"Great Gain"

by J. Taylor, Crowborough | Category: General | Sept 1981

The world is deeply engrossed in the pursuit of material gain. But the apostle Paul tells of an entirely different kind of gain, for "godliness with contentment is great gain" (1 Tim. 6:6). These two virtues together form the recipe for real spiritual gain. What exactly is godliness? It is simply "God-likeness". Is it possible for us to be like God? Paul says, "Be ye therefore imitators of God" (Eph. 5:1). We need to know something of what God is like if we are to imitate Him. God can only be known as we look at the Lord Jesus Christ, the One of whom John wrote, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" and, "the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us" (John 1:1, 14). We need to learn more of Him so that we can become like Him.

This was the aim of the apostle Paul, for he says, "Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1 Cor. 11:1). We cannot approach to

the perfection which characterized the life of the Lord Jesus Christ. Whereas He was without sin, we are encumbered with a sinful nature. However, our objective must be to become more and more like Him, as the hymn writer so beautifully puts it: "Thou wouldst like sinful man be made, in everything but sin,

That we as like Thee might become, as we unlike have been; Like Thee in faith, in meekness, love, in every heavenly grace;

From glory unto glory changed till we behold Thy face".

With this godly character is linked contentment, a very desirable virtue, sadly lacking in the world. In 1 Timothy 6:8 Paul exhorts, "But having food and covering we shall be therewith content". In Hebrews 13:5 we read "Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have". This is not something which comes naturally to us, it has to be learned. As Paul puts it, "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content" (Phil. 4:11). To be contented will lead to happiness, content with the comfort which God has graciously given. If the Lord sees fit to give us more than we had before, or to improve our position in life, we may receive His bounty with thankful hearts, acknowledging that it is from His gracious hand. But if not, we can rest assured that He knows what is best for us and we shall be content. So then let us seek that "great gain" which is the result of godliness and contentment.

J. Taylor, Crowborough | Sept 1981
General