The Pilgrim Path---First Timothy 6:6--9 (5--6--20)

But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But 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.

---v. 6---Contentment and godliness equal incredibly great gain. This is the estimate of Heaven. Hear Dr. John MacArthur: "For the believer, then, contentment is more than a noble human virtue. It is based on the sufficiency provided by God the Father and Jesus Christ."

---v. 7---Cannot take your Smart Phone to Heaven---But then again, you won't need it! But---you may "store up" treasures for yourself in Glory (see First Timothy 6:19). You always have to ask yourself, "What do I possess---that neither death---or the world---can take away from me?"

---v. 8---Clothing and food: The Holy Spirit definitely has a "travel light" attitude about the world. The Apostle Paul is saying if I may eat---and have "coverings" from the elements---that's enough---everything else is an extra...Makes you rethink what is "necessary" doesn't it?

---v. 9---"Caught"---some folk get "eaten up" with a consuming desire for more...the Holy Spirit says, "don't be one of them..."

The house I grew up in was probably around 1,000 square feet (it might have been 950). A gas furnace for heat in the very center of the floor (no air conditioning---and yes, it was blazing hot in the summer). One bathroom. But most of my friends homes only had one bathroom---so, no surprise. Story goes, my Dad found this house. Had a basement (could only access it from outside---but I loved it--unfinished--but fun). I figured I was the happiest soul in the world. My cousin Ray only lived a block away. Big area of woods in between---our school close by---we could run everywhere (and we did). Great times! ALL That to say this: It wouldn't have looked like much of a life to some---but my Dad had survived the Battle of The Bulge in WWII. He had "run" for his life across France and Germany---and made it back---by the grace of God. He would not be converted until his mid-50's. He often said to me that he saw some men die in combat that were special---Christians. He wondered, "Why they died---and not him?" It was not until years later that he realized how gracious God was: "those men were ready to die---I was not." A lot of life was lived in that small home. Some of it was perhaps harder than it should of been---But all in all---it was rich for me--- in more ways than I can explain to you. If you will yield to the Lord and use His Word for guidance in the way you live---where you live---Life will begin to get sweeter---and you will become stronger for Him.

"Happiness does not lie in abundance, but in the suitableness of our mind to our estate." Thomas Manton

"The poorest man I know is the man who has nothing but money." John D. Rockefeller

"Not one ounce, not one grain-weight more is laid on me than he hath enabled me to bear...Faith hath a cause to take courage from our very afflictions; the devil is but a whetstone to sharpen the faith and patience of the saint. I know he but heweth and polisheth stones for the New Jerusalem." Samuel Rutherford

"God's children are swimming upstream and live contrary to the course of the world. They are living among men, and live as men do, but are moving in a different direction than the world, and are carried along by the Holy Spirit. Others may take whatever course they desire, but let us take this course: to draw near to God." Richard Sibbes

Grace & Peace in Jesus Our LORD, Pastor Jason