16TH JUNE, 2023
PASTOR OLUBI JOHNSON
GODLINESS, CONTENTMENT AND GAIN
Hebrews 13:5 KJV
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.
The will of God is that we be rich, or have great gain; however, it must be with Godliness and contentment, so we do not fall into the snare of covetousness and so be enriched by satanic wisdom and power.
Incidentally, it is instructive to note that it was covetousness that led to the original fall of Lucifer, who became Satan (Ezek. 28:12-19).
Truly, the love of money is, and has always been, the root of all evil (1Tim. 6:10)!
This is why God instructs us to overcome covetousness with contentment (Heb. 13:5).
How can we define covetousness?
It is desiring more material and financial possessions than your present level of God’s character can handle.
This is why God has tied our material prosperity to our spiritual prosperity (3Jn. 1:2).
How then do we let contentment overcome covetousness?
By learning contentment through perfecting God’s character, which is, love.
Paul tells us that he learned contentment. Therefore, it is not automatic; it has to be practiced and developed through the strength that Christ gave us.
Philippians 4:11-13 KJV
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content…I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.
In other words, it has to be developed by the power of the fruit of the Holy Spirit or, more simply, by perfecting the love of God. Since God is Love, the fruit of the Spirit is God’s character, which is love.
We perfect the love of God by consistent application of the Blood (Heb. 13:20-21), the Word (1Jn. 2:5) and the Spirit (1Jn. 4:12-13).
As we perfect God’s love, God will gradually and increasingly give us great wisdom and ability to have great gain, like He did for Joseph (Gen. 41:38-44), Solomon (1Kgs. 4:29-34) and Daniel (Dan. 1:8,17,20).
1 Timothy 6:6 KJV
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
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