“But if we have food and covering, we will be content with these.” vs8

Here is a promise from the Almighty God. If we have food and covering, we will be content. Ungodly men won’t be content, because they love money and use godliness as a means of gain, but believers will be content by the Spirit. We’ll be content with the little that we have, or the much, because the Love of our Souls is Jesus Christ. We are content in His shed blood, His righteousness, and He obedience for us! We are content in His promises, and we are especially content in His peace, as the Spirit makes Christ known!

Ours is an EXPERIENCED religion! It is not mere facts and figures, but the joy of the Lord is our strength [Neh 8:10].

Do not be deceived by false prophets. They covet greedily because they do not have peace. They are living for themselves, using Christ to accomplish their ends, and they are like the crowd who sought to make Him king but He departed from them [John 6:14-15]. They labor for the meat that perishes and give away eternal life like Esau! These are corrupt human beings, “whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain [1 Tim 6:5].” Flee from them: your True Peace awaits.

Secondly, all glory, honor, and dominion belong to Jesus Christ [vs15-16]. “He is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, The only One who has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; no one has seen or can see Him, to Him be honor and eternal might.” He is the One worthy of worship, not ourselves, and we harm ourselves trying to pursue riches and carnal lusts! We miss out on the joy of serving the Son, because God will only fight for you if you are fighting for Him! “So that all men will honor theSon just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him [John 5:23].”

If you are striving after holiness to honor the Son, then He is with you. If you are striving for yourself, then He will oppress you by the Spirit. If we live for God’s glory, then there is a breeze at our back, a Wind to assist us, and we will be carried along. God will help us honor Christ because He’s fully engaged in that battle, and there will be peace, assistance, and answered prayer. He’ll show Himself faithful and abundant life will be experienced [John 10:10].

Do not doubt this! Strive after godliness, and you’ll have the Spirit. “But you, man of God, run from these things [the love of money], and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the faith; take hold of eternal life that you were called to and have made a good confession about in the presence of many witnesses [1 Tim 6:11-12].” Keep Christ before you as crucified, WORTHY of glory and honor, and you will grow in grace to your own delight. There are riches in honoring the Son that cannot be had anywhere else. Make much of Christ in how you live!

Finally, so many in Nigeria have deviated from the faith [vs20-21]. “Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding irreverent, empty speech and contradictions from the ‘knowledge’ that falsely bears that name. By professing it, some men have deviated from the faith.” Mary Slessor came teaching peace, but we’ve gone to war with each other, arguing over money, and storing up riches. The average Nigerian lives for himself, his family, and he despises others. We have churches that preach hatred and death rather than love. They are greedy, covetous, and do not know how to use money, because EVERYTHING is for self aggrandizement.