Work, Contentment, and the Love of Money — 1 Timothy 6:1–10

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Scripture • World English Bible

1 Timothy 6:1–10

WEB

¹Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed.

²Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.

³If anyone teaches a different doctrine and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness,

⁴he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions,

⁵constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.

⁶But godliness with contentment is great gain.

⁷For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out.

⁸But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.

⁹But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.

¹⁰For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain

Reflection

Paul speaks plainly: godliness paired with contentment is true gain. He refuses the lie that spiritual devotion should be a means to profit, and he warns that chasing riches leads men into temptation, ruin, and sorrow. For the man rebuilding faith, this is a reality check. You didn’t bring goods into this life, and you won’t take them out. What you steward now—time, work, money, influence—exists to serve Christ and others, not to secure an idol called security or status. Contentment isn’t a passive surrender to scarcity. It’s a disciplined heart that recognizes enough (food and clothing) and fights the escalating appetite for more. The work of fighting the good fight here is spiritual: turning ambition from self to service, choosing honest labor over shortcuts, and learning to be generous rather than grasping. Practical disciplines—budgeting, accountability, simple living, and clear priorities—are tools in this fight. They don’t save you, but they shape you into a man whose hope is in God, not in the next raise, deal, or payday.

Putting Faith Into Action

Make a list of monthly expenses and identify one nonessential cost to cut this month; give the saved amount to a local charity or to someone in real need and report back to one trusted brother for accountability.
Set a weekly 15-minute inventory: review spending, recent purchases, and financial goals; ask, 'Am I chasing money or growing in godliness?' Pray for contentment and make one small corrective step this week.
Find a believer you trust and schedule one honest conversation about money—debts, temptations, or ambitions; agree on one practical guard (budget, gift limit, accountability) and check in after 30 days.

Prayer

Father, thank you for the clear call to godliness with contentment. Show us where love of money has taken root in our hearts. Give us courage to face debts, impulses, and dishonest shortcuts. Teach us to be satisfied with food and clothing, generous with what you’ve entrusted, and quick to repent when greed tempts us. Strengthen our faith so that money never replace our hope in Christ; shape our desires to honor you, love people, and serve with integrity. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Memory Verse

1 Timothy 6:6 — But godliness with contentment is great gain. (WEB)

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Keep Going Continue to Part 17 Fight the Good Fight: Hold Fast to Christlike Virtue 1 Timothy · 1 Timothy 6:11–16 Read the next devotional →

Bible Context

Read all of 1 Timothy 6

1 Timothy 6

World English Bible • WEB

¹Let as many as are bondservants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine not be blasphemed.

³If anyone teaches a different doctrine and doesn’t consent to sound words, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness,

⁴he is conceited, knowing nothing, but obsessed with arguments, disputes, and word battles, from which come envy, strife, insulting, evil suspicions,

⁵constant friction of people of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. Withdraw yourself from such.

⁶But godliness with contentment is great gain.

⁷For we brought nothing into the world, and we certainly can’t carry anything out.

⁸But having food and clothing, we will be content with that.

⁹But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation, a snare, and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.

¹⁰For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some have been led astray from the faith in their greed, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

¹¹But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

¹²Fight the good fight of faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you confessed the good confession in the sight of many witnesses.

¹³I command you before God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate testified the good confession,

¹⁴that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

¹⁵which at the right time he will show, who is the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords.

¹⁶He alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen nor can see, to whom be honor and eternal power. Amen.

¹⁷Charge those who are rich in this present age that they not be arrogant, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on the living God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy;

¹⁸that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to share;

¹⁹laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life.

²⁰Timothy, guard that which is committed to you, turning away from the empty chatter and oppositions of what is falsely called knowledge,