It is my prayer that every Christian recognizes the importance of serving God through the way we serve others.  There are few things, if any, that are as emotionally exhilarating, and draining, as the task of serving others.  Having worked in a variety of ministry settings, including various roles within Christian camp ministry, I understand the excitement that often comes with the beginning of a new ministry or ministry season.  I also understand the weariness than can develop when our focus begins to drift away from the ministry of serving and onto ourselves.

This is day five in the second week of devotions from the book, “Serving God: Devotions for Active Worship”.  This devotional book is laid out in thirteen weeks of daily devotions with each week wrapped around an aspect of how we can serve others.  Each of these devotions are designed to help a person spend time with God to see how serving others is an act of worship.

Serving God:
Contentment With Godliness

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.“
1 Timothy 6:6-8 (NIV)

Would you say you make every effort to live a godly life?  Why would you give the answer you did?  What do you hope to gain from a godly life?  How would you respond to someone who believes their godliness should result in immediate material gain?  What should be the purpose of living a godly life?  How does contentment reflect that purpose?  How are godliness and contentment related?  What examples can you give?  Would godliness without contentment be of any value?  Is it even possible?  Explain.

If you’ve lived very long you probably know someone who does their best to live by all the “godly rules”, yet is bitter about “having” to do so.  There are people who believe they have made all of the correct life choices yet have somehow missed out on the best parts of life.  Without the contentment that comes from a complete trust and surrender to God, being a legalistic follower of the rules will often lead to regret rather than relationship.  As you pray, ask God to fill you with a desire to pursue both godliness and contentment.  Pray that your life would be a reflection of both the godliness and contentment displayed in the life of Jesus.

In prayer,

Tom