If anyone teaches a different doctrine, and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions, constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out. But having food and clothing, we will be content with that. But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Thoughts
At the time of this writing, my brother in Christ, Rob Bell, is being raked over the coals for his book, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. Honestly, I haven’t read it, but I plan to. I guess that makes me a heretic too. But is he really teaching a different doctrine or is simply raising a series of questions to make us think? It seems to me, based on what I read in this passage from Paul to Timothy, it isn’t so much the asking of questions that get us in trouble, it’s one-ups-man-ship—either for the pride or for the dollar. I guess if I ever had a chance to talk to Rob Bell, I wouldn’t be so much concerned about what he thought or what he taught, but I would be concerned if the money or his position was going to his head. I think that would be a biblical question to ask. I wouldn’t ask it in a public forum and I certainly wouldn’t do it in a blog. (Rob, if you’re reading this, next time you’re in the Southeast let’s have coffee and we’ll talk about it; my treat. This is definitely not a public conversation!)
Now back to this passage. Godliness with contentment is great gain. Wow. I think I could chew on that sentence for a while. What are your thoughts on the topic? Do you think it’s possible to achieve godliness AND contentment living in the United States?
