0116 – Godliness with Contentment Is Great Gain 敬虔加上知足的心便是大利了

Dallas Willard who was a renowned spiritual formation director said, “What matters is not the accomplishments you achieve; what matters is the person you become.” (quoted in Soul-Keeping by John Ortberg)1 Timothy 6: 9 (NKJV) But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Scripture clearly warns us that there will be snares, traps, and many foolish and harmful lusts that will drown those men who have a love for money in destruction and perdition. They will bring about many sorrows.

When we join a new company there is always a clause when there is a promise of a big pay out in the form of a bonus or shares given to us. The unspoken expectation of the clause will be for us to give up our time with our family and loved ones. Yes, they pay us, but they will also squeeze us. Of course, the family is promised a certain lifestyle in exchange for our time spent with the company. If we do not make a stand regarding what is important and priceless to us, then we will cave in on the demand.

We will probably not have much time to spend with the Lord. We might not even have time for corporate worship. We will slowly but surely be more and more emotionally detached from our spouse because there is no quality time spent together. We will lose our spouse as our soul mate. We will relinquish all responsibilities as a father or mother to the person assigned to look after the family. We are dealing with the demands of a job that needs us almost 24/7 when we are having conference calls due to the different time zones. We might be frustrated at work because we have a boss who only demands and never seems to understand.

We are drained emotionally because we are angry, frustrated and disappointed meanwhile the person staying at home is also overwhelmed, neglected and lonely. We argue and complain about our lives, but we still want that certain lifestyle. Sorrows, resentment and anger have crept into our lives. Our soul is not prospering although we are doing well financially. What kind of a man or woman will we become at the end of this pursuit?

1 Timothy 6:6-7(NKJV) Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

Godliness with contentment means we are to make adjustments to ensure that our lives line up with the values and priorities that we have set forth to achieve especially during critical times. All of us are able to learn to be content even if we need to live on one income to make God and family as priorities in our lives. Godliness with contentment is great gain indeed!

Sermon Series: Balancing Godliness and Riches (Part 1)


敬虔加上知足的心便是大利了

达拉斯·威拉德(Dallas Willard)是一位著名的灵命培育导师,他说:“重要的不是你取得的成就,重要的是你成为了什么样的人。

提摩太前书6:9 但那些想要发财的人,就陷在迷惑、落在网罗和许多无知有害的私欲里,叫人沉在败坏和灭亡中。

圣经清楚地警告我们说,将来有网罗、陷阱、许多无知和有害的私欲,要把这些贪爱钱财的人淹没在灭亡和沉沦里。这将带来许多愁苦。

在我们加入新的公司时,合约里总会有一条承诺会以奖金或股份的形式给我们一大笔钱。其潜台词就是希望我们放弃与家人和所爱的人相处的时间。是的,他们付给我们钱,然后压榨我们。当然,为了换取我们在公司里的时间,家人们被应许了某种程度的生活方式。如果我们不坚持什么对我们是重要和无价的,那么我们就会屈服于这些要求。我们可能没太多时间和神在一起。我们甚至可能没时间参加集体崇拜。

因为缺乏优质的相处时间,我们与配偶的感情将日趋冷淡,我们会失去身为我们灵魂伴侣的配偶。我们将为人父母的所有责任都推卸给了负责照顾我们家庭的其他人。当我们有电话会议,因不同区域的时差我们几乎全天候的处理工作上的需求。我们可能会在工作中感到沮丧,因为我们的老板只会提出要求而从不尝试去理解。

我们因愤怒、沮丧和失望而情绪低落,与此同时在家里的人也感到不知所措、被忽视和感到孤单。我们争吵和抱怨我们的生活,但仍然想要这种生活方式。愁苦、厌恨和愤怒已经悄悄地进入我们的生活。虽然我们的经济状况良好,但我们的魂并不亨通。在这样的一番折腾之后,我们最终会变成什么样的人?

提摩太前书 6: 6-7 敬虔加上知足的心便是大利了; 7 因为我们没有带什么到世上来,也不能带什么去。8只要有衣有食,就当知足。

敬虔与知足意味着我们需要做出调整,以确保我们的生活符合我们所设定的价值观和优先次序,特别是在危机时刻。我们都能学会知足,即使我们只有一份收入,并把神和家庭放在生命中的首位。敬虔加上知足的心便是大利了!

讲章系列:平衡敬虔和富足 (第一部分)