But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.** 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (NIV)**
God is able to make all grace abound in us including Godliness – it is a God given sufficiency not dependent upon our circumstances and it is great gain when it is accompanied by contentment. Godliness should be every person’s business as it is God’s chief end for the life of the believer. God’s right over our lives is absolute and therefore our obedience is to be unconditional. God has designed particular purposes for all His creation – for the sun and moon and the stars, for the birds and beasts, for the flowers and trees and all else – everything was designed to act according to their natures. Man was designed for Godliness. We were created for this purpose and for God’s pleasure. And He has a higher resolution for man than merely storing up for ourselves treasures on earth, riches, prizes or awards – none of which are wrong when used for His glory and our good never one surpassing the other. Yet oftentimes all our worldliness will never make it through the fire that will test the quality of each man’s work. Wealth and being notable can be hard to handle for mere flesh. It often goes quickly to our heads, puffing us up with arrogance and pride and idle notions. God is our Master - not mere man - and He has a higher purpose for us and that is to seek heaven and be serviceable to Him in our sojourn in the here and now. Living other-worldly, making much of Him for the world to see.
Godliness has value in every way and holds great promise for the child of the King. It is the great work of the moment and should maintain our utmost efforts – My Utmost For His Highest as Chambers wrote. The greatest folly of man is to be busy about nothing. Vain and empty things are unworthy of our time and care – yet how easily we become sucked into that. It is important to take inventory of our own lives – being honest with ourselves as we can be so self-deluded. How we spend our time and resources are a good start. Look at your calendar and bank account. Remember, Godliness is of the greatest importance and it is the one thing necessary as each life is accountable to Him. This is soul work, eternal work, works that God has created in advance for us to walk in. Our bodies came from the dust of the earth but our souls from the very breath of God. We are not our own. Do not be foolish but understand what the Lord’s will is. When Godliness is neglected the soul goes to the grave in unspeakable sorrow.
But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:11-12 (NIV)