1 Timothy 6:6-8. 6But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
Greed is one of those sins that is everybody else’s problem, never our own. The truth is that most of us probably don’t consider ourselves to be greedy. The idea of being greedy evokes pictures of people like Scrooge, Boss Tweed, Gordon Gekko, or those birds from Finding Nemo that just say Mine! Mine! Mine! all the time.
As long as there are people that are richer than me I will never be greedy. Jeff Bezos is greedy. Not me. I’m not rich enough to be greedy. We all know the Bible says, “Money is the root of all evil.” And I don’t have much money so I must not be evil.
Except that the Bible actually says, “The LOVE of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” And anyone, rich or poor, can love money. So let’s take a step back and look at our hearts a bit more deeply, shall we? Why? Because greed is about what you love. What you desire. It is about being discontented, never satisfied with what God has given you.
Greed, like all sins, is a worship problem, which then becomes a love problem. The discontented person will fail to love. Why? Because they will be completely self-focused, chasing after whatever it takes to fill their empty heart. Including the love of money.
So what are you chasing after today? Is it money? Is it stuff? Can you identify the greed in your life (yes, it’s there)? How do you spend your money? What are you saving up for? Have you given anything away lately? Where are you discontent? What do you covet?
OK, but identifying our greed is only the first step to wholeness. What is the cure for greed? Paul gives us this simple greed-crushing equation: godliness + contentment = great gain.
Are you living within great gain? Are these the words you would use to describe your life? Your current situation? Maybe not. For most of us, there is always “more” just around the corner. But if and when we get to the place of seeing our lives in Christ as great gain, then we can be satisfied. Then we will finally be content.
But how do we get to a life of great gain? Through godliness and contentment.
Godliness: This is not a form of piety or self-denial. Godliness is God in us. Christ in us. His glory and majesty in our lives. In Christ, godliness isn’t something we do, it’s something we are.
Contentment: Contentment then is trusting in and appropriating of our godliness in Christ. Do you really believe that the resurrected and glorified Jesus lives in you? Then why would you need anything more? Why would you covet? Why be greedy?
Great gain: Now we have found the real joy of godliness + contentment. The peace of trusting our Heavenly Father in all things and allowing our lives to reflect his own. The security of needing nothing while having everything. Now we can live every day in the great gain of to live is Christ.
You: Are you content? Or are you greedy?
You in Christ: In Christ, you are godly. Do you believe this?
Christ in you: How might you live your life today as though you live in “great gain.” What complaints might stop? What giving might begin?
To Live is Christ 