This is from my sermon collection. I sometimes fill in at my church and am able to teach  our congregation. In this category of Sermon Collection, I share my sermon outline with you and possibly a video version as well. 

Let’s begin by reading 1 Timothy 6:6-10

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain.

⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

⁸ And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

⁹ But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

¹⁰ For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

In this article, I want to talk about contentment.

What does it mean to be content?

Proverbs 30:8-9

⁸ Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

⁹ Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

-You see, contentment is being satisfied with the necessities God has provided. 

-Food, a home, a bed, a family or friends… and the list goes on. 

Here in Proverbs, we see a request that is an odd request, but one that has a righteous attitude.

The writer here is asking for the middle of the road. 

     -He knows that riches will likely put him in a position to not “need” God

     And that poverty will likely put him in a position to curse God.

     -Neither is a place we want to be. 

     -You see, we can grow more content when we see God as our provider.

     -NOT ourselves or the world, but God.

And we can grow more discontent when we focus on the necessities of life.

Once we give the necessities to God, we just feel better.

-My Christian walk sometimes feels like a roller coaster.

I often get so stressed and fed up with life, I can’t take it anymore. 

All I can do is give up and just give it to God. I have no choice.

Once I do, I feel such relief. Not a care in the world because I am content in the moment and know God has everything under control. 

I am happy. I got everything I need…

But then, after a while, I start thinking about “what if I had this?”, “I could do that” and before you know it, I’m taking those things from God again thinking I can handle them this time.

Spoiler alert!  I can’t…… and I am back to where I started. 

Much of our restlessness comes from all the abundant culture we have. We are an abundant/spoiled nation, and we just can’t help ourselves but look around and desire more. 

1 Timothy 6:6 tells us that “Godliness with contentment is great gain”

-Our culture today often thinks the reverse.

We think the more we have, the more God is blessing us which then brings in the contentment.

That is the complete opposite of God’s word. 

Read 1 timothy 6:1-5

1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

² And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort.

³ If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

⁴ He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

⁵ Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

“Supposing that gain is godliness, from such withdraw thyself”

-benny hen example.

-he had now reason o believe God wasn’t blessing them, until he got into the word.

back to verse 6. It says “Now godliness with contentment is great gain:”

What is contentment here in verse 6? Ow-tar’-ki-ah (autarkeia) is the word for contentment. (you can find the hebrew and greek at blueletterbible.org)

• a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed
• sufficiency of the necessities of life

In other words, If what you have is more than enough to sustain your life, you should have no reason not to be content.

“sufficiency of the necessities of life”

     -Whenever we think getting something material or getting more of it, will answer our life’s needs, we lack this contentment. 

     -Whenever we are deeply grieved at a material loss, we lack this contentment. 

     -Whenever we get an inordinate pleasure from buying or having some material thing, we lack this contentment.

Philippians 4:8-14.

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

⁹ Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

¹⁰ But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

¹² I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

¹⁴ Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

Vs. 9 – Wouldn’t it be great to have the full confidence of Paul here?

          “Do as I do and God will be with you.”

But what is Paul talking about here?

          -he is commenting on the gracious giving of the Philippians to his ministry.

-While doing so, he is teaching us about contentment. About being in need of nothing, because through Christ, he can do all things.

You see….

      -It wasn’t the gifts or tithes or food the Philippians provided that gave Paul strength.

      -It wasn’t those material things that gave him the ability to do God’s work.

      -It was Christ that did those things. Christ just used the Philippians to help.

That is why Paul says in verse 17 “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.”

He knows Christ is using them. And because they are obedient, the fruits that are born through Paul’s ministry are also credited to the Philippians. 

Let’s not forget that we have everything we could ever dream of and more once we are saved. 

If not in this world, in heaven. We are saving up and accumulating our blessings for the future.

That is the point of Philippians 4:13…..

I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me, not because I simply believe in Christ, or because I think God is a genie that grants my wishes,

But because I am fully depending on Him to supply my every need. 

And when we fully depend on Christ, as Paul did, we not only have the peace of God, we have the God of peace with us. Verse 9

And if that is true, who can be against us? 

Many of us attempt to meet our own needs outside of God. We think we know better or can get it done faster. 

And every time we do that, we are left frustrated and disappointed. 

How to get your needs met.

• Trust in God completely

1. 1. 1. Give it all to God. Not matter how big or small. He can manage it better than you.

• Obey Him and allow Him to work

1. 1. 1. To be honest, I think this part is the hardest for people because we are scared of what he might ask us to do.

• Wait

1. 1. Have patience.

A couple more points and we will be done.

Hebrews 13:5 (i a lot of scripture because I want you to know this is the word of God I am giving you. Not my opinion.)

⁵ Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Don’t even allow covetousness in your conversation.

-we all know how that ends up. We end up wanting that thing even more. And later going online and finding how to obtain it. 

Psalm 37:4 

⁴ Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

-again, we don’t get the desires of our heart just because we believe in Christ. Just like we can’t do all things just because we believe in Christ. 

-there are stipulations that need to be met.

-We must first delight ourselves in the Lord. 

That doesn’t mean be a Sunday morning member and have a good ol’ time at the potluck.

It means…  

-enjoy spending time with the Lord

-focus on your personal relationship with the Lord

-what are you like alone? What do you think about or do?

-be content in the Lord.

We have so much to be thankful for.

Once we are content in the lord, we have nothing to worry about.

Once we don’t have anything to worry about, that frees our mind to think on the things of God

(meditate on his word)

Once we spend time meditating on his word, we appreciate God and his goodness even more and are able to delight in ourselves in the Lord. 

Everything in God’s word works together.

I’m going to finish with Psalms 1:1-3 

1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Travis Haines

Husband | Father | IT Guy | Blogger | Author and Creator of ChristianIntrovert.com wanting to encourage those who question their abilities in Christ. Don't let your Introversion define who you are and don't use it as an excuse to shut yourself out from the world.