Rochester, MN UCC - "Contentment and Great Gain" - 1 Timothy 6:6-19

Contrary to what we may have been led to believe, Paul tells us that “those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” On the other hand, Paul insists that there “is great gain and contentment in godliness.” Our contemporary culture most often proclaims the polar opposite of Paul’s observation. Gain is usually considered to be synonymous with wealth. It is wealth that we want to gain. It is wealth that is the sign of our success. Far from appearing trapped, billionaires are pictured flamboyantly enjoying their immense riches.

 It is worth noting however, that Paul pairs gain with the word contentment when he is speaking of the benefits of godliness. When you think of today’s billionaires do you imagine them as content? These men who acquire business after business, dabble in media, government, social engineering, and space exploration? The restless, obsessive acquisition of wealth it takes to gain and keep billions of dollars contrasts rather sharply with a picture of contentment.

 To be content is to be still, to be at peace, to be fulfilled in the present moment. Paul believes that God has created us to be in relationship with Him. This means that it is in following Jesus, in loving God, neighbor, and self, that we find contentment and true gain. There is nothing wrong with money- it is a medium of exchange. We may use it to get things that we desire. The problem is when we desire the wrong things. When we seek after more wealth we may find it, but we will not find contentment. True gain comes from fulfilling the purpose for which we were created: from walking in the ways of God. As for the money we have, we can follow Paul’s advice, “As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches but rather on God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life.” This Sunday let us recommit ourselves to walking in the ways of God. Let us find contentment and true gain by taking hold of the life that really is life.

   - Rev. Andrew Greenhaw