DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2018 GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT TEXT: 1 TIMOTHY 6:6-12

DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2018

GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT

TEXT: 1 TIMOTHY 6:6-12

Key Verse: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” (1 Timothy 6:6,7)_

Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish born American wealthy manufacturer, said “Millionaires seldom smile.” His fellow American John D. Rockefeller, said “Great wealth is a burden destroying the real zest of life and banishing peace from the heart.” Consider Nero,

seated on the splendid throne of the Emperor of Rome, conqueror of the then world: the porches of his palace were a mile long and the ceiling of his banquet halls were arranged to shower perfumes upon the entertainers gathered from every corner of the world. His crown was worth half a million dollars. A thousand chariots accompanied him whenever he travelled. He never wore the same dress twice, but he was gloomy, miserable, unhappy and dissatisfied. He committed suicide later.

Godliness with contentment is great gain. We must therefore be content with things which we have the privilege to possess because they that seek riches at all cost will get into temptation and eventual loss of faith in God. The Scriptures says, “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase…” (Ecclesiastes 5:10). The unregenerate man gets his spiritual life choked while insatiably searching for riches.

Whatever we seem to possess is loaned to us just for a while. A moment after death, the Christless millionaire is no richer than a beggar. The grace to use riches as counselled by Scripture is given when one surrenders the totality of one’s heart to the Lordship of Christ and seeks righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. The nature of covetousness is then removed and one is able to please the Lord with one’s substance.

*✍ THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:* Wealthy is he who lives with contentment
_📖📖📖 *COVER to COVER:* 1 SAMUEL 18-20, PSALM 11:59.

CLARIFICATIONS :

1. God is not against His children getting wealthy (not amazing wealth). He gives power to get wealth Deut. 8:13. If the Father does not bequeath His wealth on His children, is it wisdom to bequeath it on the children of Satan?
2. v5,6 cannot be separated. *Doctrine of the destitute of truth*: Gain is godliness v5. *Doctrine of the heavenly minded*: Godliness is gain v6.
3. "Gain is godliness" believes that the essence and proof of godliness is wealth (worldly gain). If righteousness does not give you wealth, it does not profit. This kind of doctrine of modern day prosperity preachers is not from God. Withdraw from such people/preachers.v5
5. "Godliness with contentment is great gain" v6, believes God can give wealth but that is not his chief pursuit in life. If it comes, praise God; if not, there is contentment with provision of basics of life -food and raiment v8.
6. They that choose wealth as the basis of seeking God have falling *already* in their heart to temptation and a snare. v9
7. v10 is not saying money is the root of all evil. It is not saying the love of money is the root of all evil because some evils are not as a result of money. It means the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.v9.
8. Run from the love of money and those who centres their ministry on prosperity. Fight against the tendency in your heart v11,12.

HYMN: Leave it there (GHS 4)

1. If the world from you withhold of its silver and gold,
And you have to get along with meager fare,
Just remember, in his Word, how he feeds the little bird -
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

Refrain:
Leave it there, leave it there,
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there;
If you trust and never doubt, he will surely bring you out.
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.

2 If your body suffers pain and your health you can’t regain,
And your soul is almost sinking in despair,
Jesus knows the pain you feel, he can save and he can heal -
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. [Refrain]

3 When your enemies assail and your heart begins to fail,
Don’t forget that God in heaven answers prayer;
He will make a way for you and will lead you safely through -
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. [Refrain]

4 When your youthful days are gone and old age is stealing on.
And your body bends beneath the weight of care,
He will never leave you then, he’ll go with you to the end -
Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there. [Refrain]

PRAYER POINTS:
1. Lord, I hereby consecrate that my principle will be "gain is godliness". I will not allow wealth, but godliness, to define my purpose in life.
2. Search my heart, expose and remove any love of money from my heart.
3. I hereby resolve to follow after righteousness, love, faith and patience in this world and not to be a follower of mammon.
4. Let not this evil doctrine of " gain is godliness have inroad to my church.