Godliness with Contentment 1 Tim 6

^{God thank you for this study of 1 Timothy and the lessons you have for me as a young leader in the body of Christ. Continue to challenge me and convict me of sin in my life and ways that my leadership is not good and right.} 

1 Tim 6

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

God teach me as your Son Jesus set the example to seek godliness with contentment. God help me not to just seek contentment in other things or to seek to make my own righteousness and end up in despair.  God you have given me everything I need in this life and everything you need for me to enter eternal life by your Son Jesus Christ! 

I confess I think my struggle is similar but ironic to this. I seek success and feeling important in ministry! I look for numbers and feeling good about what I do. Lord free me of that sinful desire. Help me to know I have approval and purpose in you God that is not affected by the success or failure of my outward ministry. Remind me I don't and can't earn your love or approval God. You welcome me home as your son by my faith in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. 

God I thank you that we can have contentment in this life despite our circumstances! God teach me to be content with what I have. Little things go wrong and not always to my plan. Yet I am so blessed to have life. I have food and clothing. And yet you have given me above and beyond that with wealth, friends, a wonderful girlfriend, work etc. Help me to be thankful for those things yet not expect or put my hope in them. Set my hopes on you alone God! 

Let my work for InterVarsity be out of you and your abundance not my own heart searching for approval or importance. Let your kingdom advance even through me and my impure motives!

Amen