Popular Teaching-
Gain=Godliness
Paul's Teaching-
Godliness=Gain
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5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
Was this popular(and false) teaching just a problem in the Church in Ephesus
or
is it still a problem in the Church today??
The health, wealth and prosperity gospel; this erroneous message is not new.
What you have equates to how Godly you are, is what they say,
But
Paul says "Godliness with contentment is great gain."
WHAT we have is not what really matters.
WHO we have, and who we are in Him.
That's what matters.
In Paul's time, the Greek Philosophers held that true contentment was found
when a man had all his resources in himself.
When he was self-sufficient.
Paul is using this idea, but transcending these men's self-centered ideology.
He's telling us true contentment is found when all our resources,
all our dependence,
all our happiness,
is wrapped up in God alone.
"Thou shalt not covet"
"...For I have learned, in whatsover state I am, therewith to be content..."
Be content.
-thoughts from tonight's message at church-
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