“Godliness - a Shroud, a Coffin, and a Grave”

1 Timothy 6:1-12 has 4 verses that use the word “godliness”. The context deals with attitudes. There is the attitude of the believer servant. He is to treat his master with respect whether he is an unsaved master or a master who knows the Lord, (verses 1-2).

There is the attitude of the teacher, (verses 3-5). The words that we teach are to be wholesome words, Christ‘s words, even doctrine according to godliness. Those words are sound words, healthy words, edifying words, words full of grace and absent of error. Paul calls them words characterized by godliness.

There is the attitude of motivation, (verses 4-5). If pride motivates us we become “doters,” sick in our minds. Our minds can become overwhelmed with self and our own advancement that our thoughts and words gender envy (words that lead away from soundness), strife (contention), railings (distracting slander), evil surmising (bad suppositions). This kind of thinking and speaking lead to (verse 5) perverse disputing. We rub people the wrong way, and become useless and empty in our dealings with one another. This attitude takes us away from true godliness, and brings us to an attitude that says if I play the godliness game I will be benefited by it. How sad is that!

Just think, we can be doing the church thing, or doing the service thing, but if our attitude causes others to exalt me, then it is perverse! Paul says separate from this kind of person.

He then goes on to tell us what our attitude should be -- “godliness with contentment.” That is what brings great gain or advancement. It isn’t the gain that we should seek, it is the godliness that should be our goal. With godliness comes great blessing - the blessing of contentment.

Do you ever find yourself wishing for more, more often than being thankful for what you have? We have all been there. These are the times when we lose our focus on what is of great value in God’s view. God says be content with what you have. Desiring the “stuff” that pride and the world offers, will bring with it traps to fall into, and ultimately cause us to stray away from the faith.

There is a very false philosophy at work in our world. You have all heard it, “Who ever has the most toys when he dies, wins!” That is the very attitude Paul is saying brings so much harm.

So what are we to do? Learn contentment. Be thankful for what the Lord has done in your life. If it all came from Him, then it all ultimately belongs to Him. We are just the stewards of what He gives to us. Be content with what He has given to you, to use it for His glory.

Paul finishes this paragraph by saying; “11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”

Seek after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness; it brings blessings from God.

I conclude with Matthew Henry’s comment: “He that is godly, is sure to be happy in another world; and if contented with his condition in this world, he has enough; and all truly godly people are content. When brought into the greatest straits, we cannot be poorer than when we came into this world; a shroud, a coffin, and a grave, are all that the richest man in the world can have from all his wealth. If nature should be content with a little, grace should be content with less. The necessaries of life bound a true Christian's desires, and with these he will endeavour to be content."

Have a wonderful day serving our Wonderful Lord, by Grace Alone!