“Contentment in Christ - The Only True Wealth”

SERMON Title: Contentment in Christ - The Only True Wealth
SCRIPTURE: 1 Timothy 6:6-10 ESV

Introduction

Money is one of those topics that makes us uneasy. We all need it—bills must be paid, food bought, and housing secured. Yet at the same time, we know how easily money can capture our hearts. In a city like Toronto, the race for more feels unavoidable. Promotions, investments, housing, travel, even lifestyle trends whisper the same message: If you just had a little more, you would finally be enough.

Take housing as an example. For many young people, owning a home seems impossible. Renting alone can feel overwhelming, shaping decisions about careers, families, and the future. Or think about cultural obsession with lifestyle—the latest technology, vacations, or even “quiet luxury,” where wealth is subtly displayed without logos. These pursuits reinforce the illusion that money equals identity, security, and worth.

The truth is, money itself is not evil. It’s a gift from God, a tool to be used for His purposes. But when money moves from being a tool in our hands to becoming the treasure of our hearts, it takes God’s place. That is why Paul presses in so strongly in this passage. He is not giving Timothy a few financial tips—he is warning of a spiritual danger that can destroy lives and derail faith.

The real question is not, Do we have money? but, Does money have us?

Paul gives us a sharp contrast: the danger of chasing wealth that leads to ruin, and the gain of godliness with contentment that satisfies the soul.

1. The Danger of Chasing Wealth (vv. 9–10)

Paul warns, “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.”

Notice: he doesn’t condemn wealth itself but the desire for it—the deliberate pursuit of riches as an ultimate goal. The Greek word conveys a settled longing, a life oriented around gaining more. It’s not a passing wish but a consuming direction.

This desire is dangerous because it acts like a trap. Once caught, the heart is ensnared. Scripture repeatedly warns us:

• Jesus described wealth as deceitful, choking out God’s Word (Mark 4:19).

• Solomon observed that money never satisfies (Ecclesiastes 5:10).

• Jesus said life does not consist in possessions (Luke 12:15).

Paul goes further: the love of money is “a root of all kinds of evils.” Devotion to money breeds selfishness, envy, deceit, exploitation—even violence. These sins are the fruit of misplaced affection.

It is tempting to think, That’s not me. I just want enough to live comfortably. But Paul warns that even Christians can wander slowly from the faith when wealth becomes central. It often begins subtly—with good intentions. If I earn more, I can give more. But over time, priorities shift, trust drifts from God to finances, and the heart becomes ensnared.

It’s like walking into a minefield. We think we can avoid the explosions, but danger is everywhere. Those who chase wealth pierce themselves with many pangs—self-inflicted wounds of worry, sleepless nights, strained relationships, and regret. And all this striving is for something that cannot endure.

2. The Temporary Nature of Wealth (v. 7)

Paul reminds us, “For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.” Wealth is fragile. Job said, “Naked I came… naked shall I return” (Job 1:21). Solomon wrote, “He shall take nothing from his toil that he can carry in his hand” (Ecclesiastes 5:15).

Everything we accumulate—bank accounts, homes, reputations—ends at the grave. Life itself demonstrates how fleeting wealth is:

• Markets can crash overnight.

• Natural disasters can wipe away homes.

• Illness and crisis can upend plans in an instant.

And yet, culture promises that more equals security, freedom, and happiness. Social media reinforces the lie, showing curated lifestyles that measure worth by possessions. But even when we reach those goals, the satisfaction fades. It is like chasing the wind.

Blaise Pascal once wrote: “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of each person which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.” Wealth cannot fill that vacuum. At best it offers temporary relief; at worst it leaves us emptier than before.

This is why Paul presses the point—wealth is temporary. It cannot last, it cannot protect, and it cannot satisfy the soul.

3. True Gain: Godliness with Contentment (vv. 6, 8)

If wealth is temporary, what truly lasts? Paul answers: “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Godliness. At its heart, godliness is Christlikeness. Paul has already said that the “mystery of godliness” is Christ Himself (1 Tim. 3:16). True godliness flows from Him. He is our righteousness, our wisdom, and our satisfaction. In this sense, we might paraphrase: Christ with contentment is great gain.

Contentment. The ancient world admired contentment, but for Stoic philosophers it meant self-sufficiency—hardening oneself to desire. Paul flips this upside down. Christian contentment is not self-sufficiency but Christ-sufficiency. It is not suppressing desire but finding desires fulfilled in Christ.

That’s why Paul wrote in Philippians 4: “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content… I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” And Hebrews 13:5 reminds us: “Be content with what you have, for He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”

Contentment flows not from circumstances but from Christ’s presence. When He is our sufficiency, even food and clothing are enough (v. 8). With Him, we can live free from restless striving, because we already have life itself.

Here in Toronto, pressures are intense—career competition, housing markets, family responsibilities, social comparisons. But Paul asks: What happens when markets crash? When health falters? When dreams slip away? If our contentment rests on wealth or status, despair will follow. But if it rests in Christ, peace remains unshakable.

As Augustine wrote, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” Jesus Himself declared, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). He alone satisfies.

Conclusion

When Christ is our anchor, everything changes. The restless striving for more loses its grip. Our identity, worth, and security are no longer tied to fragile, temporary things but rooted in Christ, the eternal treasure of our souls.

• He is our godliness—in Him we are righteous.

• He is our sufficiency—in Him we lack nothing.

• He is our treasure—in Him we are rich beyond measure.

So whatever pressures you face—financial stress, career uncertainty, endless comparisons—remember: Christ is enough. His peace and joy cannot be taken away. Markets may collapse, life may shift, but His presence is constant.

Let us live in that freedom—free from the endless chase for wealth, free to delight in the One who alone satisfies every longing of our hearts. Amen.

Reflection and Response

As we close, take a moment to reflect:

• Where am I seeking security more than Christ?

• What desires have taken the place that only He should occupy?

• When restless or dissatisfied, where do I turn first?

• What step can I take this week to anchor my contentment in Him?