November 10, 2025 - 1 Timothy 6

Instructions for bondservants.  Harsh words for those who teach heresy:  “If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing” (6:3-4).  And, then, Paul addresses a matter that is a challenge for all of us, i.e., prioritizing temporal things over eternal things and just being content.  Some have heard me relate the story about John D. Rockefeller.  I have read that it is not a direct quote from himself, rather a widely circulated anecdote about his death.  According to the story, when Rockefeller died in 1937, his accountant or business associate was asked, “How much did John D. leave?”  The reply was, “All of it.”  No matter how wealthy we might be, none of us will take our worldly possessions with us after death.  Rather than constantly grasping after worldly wealth, better is Paul’s counsel:  “Godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (6:6-8).

Father, whate’er of earthly bliss

Thy sov’reign hand denies,

Accepted at thy throne of grace,

Let this petition rise:

Give me a calm, a thankful heart,

From ev’ry murmur free;

Thy blessings of thy grace impart,

And let me live to thee.   -- Anne Steele (1760)