Christian Contentment (1 Tim. 6:3-10)

Outline: Christian Contentment (1 Tim. 6:3-10): 

1. Godliness with greed
2. Godliness with contentment

Summary:  In 1 Tim. 6:3-10 Paul begins his conclusion to the letter by again taking up the topic of false teachers.  This text focuses not on the content of their teaching but on the motivations beneath their teaching.  For the false teachers, godliness was a means to a much more desirable end, namely, financial gain.  In other words it was greed, a desire to be rich, the love of money that was driving them.  For the true teacher, however, godliness with contentment is itself great gain.  Ironically, greed never results in real riches while contentment is the tranquil recognition that one is already rich in Christ.  When we remember how generous God has been toward us in Christ we find it quite reasonable to be content with the basics in this life.  We know the stuff of this world is temporary, but the riches we enjoy in Christ are eternal.

Main Point: It is contentment, not greed, that makes one truly rich.

Discussion Questions:

• What are some of the characteristics of false teachers mentioned in this passage?
• What is the distinguishing feature between false teachers and true teachers?
• What effects stem from a greedy heart that is in love with money? (vv.4-5, 9-10)
• What are some indicators in our lives that may suggest we have a love of money?
• What are the basic necessities in v.8 that God says we are to be content with? How would God have us think about the abundance we experience as American Christians? 
• How should the fact of v.7 shape the way we view our stuff? (cf. Job 1:21; Eccles. 5:15)
• How is it that contentment makes one truly rich?
• How do we see contentment modeled in the life of Christ?
• How does Christian contentment find its roots in the gospel?
• What does our contentment tell the world about Jesus? 

Application Questions:

• What indicators in my life suggest that I may have a love of money?  
• In what current circumstances am I most temped to be discontent?
• What truths about God can help me fight for contentment? 

Prayer Points:

• Praise God for the generosity He has shown us in Christ
• Praise Jesus for becoming poor that we might become rich in Him
• Praise God for how He has provided everything we need to live for His glory 
• Ask God to help us to, by the Spirit, sever any root of greed or love of money in our lives
• Ask God to help us fight greed with gratitude and discontent with contentment in Jesus
• Ask God to help us be content with what we have and show the world how sufficient Jesus is