Awake & Alive: 1 Timothy Reading Plan
Day 27
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. 9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 1 Timothy 6:6-10
The opening word, “but,” functions as a contrast marker, indicating a shift in Paul’s argument. He aims to contrast spiritual contentment with the message and lifestyle of the false teachers covered in the previous four verses. Paul appeals to believers to live with an eternal perspective, avoiding the fruitless pursuit of temporary possessions and ideologies. This fundamental truth is found throughout scripture, and Paul emphasizes its validity for the reader even in the modern era.
To reinforce this truth, Paul spends the remainder of the section discussing the dangers of false gospels that particularly push the pursuit of wealth. It’s important to note that Paul never identifies wealth as inherently wrong. Rather, he focuses on the dangers of the obsessive pursuit of wealth, which cannot provide lasting satisfaction and ultimately leads to evil and pain. This point is emphasized by its contrast with the contentment found in simplicity and trust for the believer.