1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NKJV) Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
A couple from a cosmopolitan city once went on holiday with their children to a beautiful countryside. This couple often had quarrels and disagreements in their marriage because both were highly driven, career-minded individuals. They irritated each other at home because they brought all their frustration and anger there, leaving their souls exhausted. Every minor flaw in the other was amplified, which frustrated them and made them unable to control their anger.
During their stay at the farm, they observed the slow, mundane lifestyle of the farmer and asked him, “Don’t you think that you are missing so much of city life by living at the farm?” The farmer replied, “I have a closely knit family. I lack nothing in life because of the produce of the land and the herds I rear, and we are healthy.” What a picture of contentment! We may not be farmers, but we can learn to be content, even if we had to live on one income, by making God and family our priorities in life. Godliness with contentment is great gain.
If money is not the god of our lives and our identity is firmly rooted in Christ, there will be no growing discontent or a constant need to compare ourselves with our peers. What’s the point of gaining the whole world but losing one’s soul?
Philippians 4:12-13 (NKJV) I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
The context of this Scripture is that the Apostle Paul was able to make adjustments to his life, whether he was abundantly supplied or experiencing times of material want. He experienced God’s grace and strength in every situation. So no matter whether you are well supplied or need to wait patiently for a breakthrough during times of scarcity, God’s grace is sufficient for you.
We should be content that our family is doing well, that we are walking with the Lord, and that we are in good health. But if we are not careful, we may become frustrated because we have identified with the social class we belong to and the lifestyle we have grown accustomed to. When we become too attached to a certain way of life, it can be very hard to adjust when circumstances call for it.
Reflection: If God limited my income tomorrow, would my joy, identity, or sense of worth fall apart?
Sermon Series: Is Money Evil
活出知足的人生
提摩太前书 6:6–8 然而，敬虔加上知足的心便是大利了。因为我们没有带什么到世上来，也不能带什么去。只要有衣有食，就当知足。
曾有一对住在国际大都市的夫妻，带着孩子到风景优美的乡村度假。这对夫妻都事业心强、追求卓越，因此在婚姻中常有争执与分歧。他们把工作中的挫败与压力带回家，使彼此的心灵疲惫不堪。对方一点小小的缺点都会被无限放大，怒气难以控制。
在农场期间，他们看见农夫过着缓慢而平凡的生活，便问他说：“住在农场里，你不觉得错过了许多城市的精彩生活吗？” 农夫回答：“我有一个紧密相连的家庭。土地出产丰富，我所牧养的牲畜也供应我们所需，我们身体健康，我一无所缺。” 这是何等知足的写照！
或许我们不是农夫，但即便只有一份收入，我们仍可以学习知足，只要我们把神和家庭放在人生的优先位置。“敬虔加上知足”才是真正的大利。
若金钱不是我们生命中的“神”，若我们的身份坚定地扎根在基督里，我们就不会在比较中产生不满，也不会不断与同辈较量。人若赚得全世界，却赔上自己的灵魂，有什么益处呢？
腓立比书 4:12–13 我知道怎样处卑贱，也知道怎样处丰富；或饱足，或饥饿；或有余，或缺乏，随事随在，我都得了秘诀。我靠着那加给我力量的，凡事都能做。
这段经文的背景，是使徒保罗在人生不同阶段中学会调整自己：无论是物质充足，还是经历缺乏，他都经历神的恩典与力量。因此，无论你如今供应充足，或在等候突破的缺乏时刻，神的恩典总是够你用的。
我们当为家庭平安、与主同行、身体健康而心存知足。然而，若不谨慎，我们可能会因认同某种社会阶层或习惯某种生活方式而心生焦虑。当我们过度依附某种生活水平，一旦环境改变，就很难作出调整。
反思：
若神明天限制我的收入，我的喜乐、身份认同或自我价值感，是否会因此动摇甚至崩塌？
讲章系列：金钱是邪恶的吗？