Introduction: On Mother’s Day we considered the greatest gift a husband can give to his wife. On this Father’s Day, I want us to consider what he and his wife give to their children. I want us to think about a gift that many children raised in a godly home have benefited from, and I also want us to think about the grief that many children in professing Christians homes have suffered because of the absence of this gift. THAT GIFT IS THE GIFT OF GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT. The gift of a truly godly life that recognizes God as the goal for living. The gift of a truly godly life that finds its satisfaction in God. The gift of a truly godly life that isn’t constantly craving the things that God has already told us will — not only not satisfy us, but also — will lead us into dangerous territory. I want us to consider what these verses teach us about the blessings of contentment, and the world of sin that emerges where it is missing. There is a statement in the 10th verse that we would do well to meditate on. When describing those who wander from the faith because of love for money — or to state it for what they are not characterized by — for lack of contentment, Paul says they pierced themselves with many pangs. Pains, griefs, distresses, is what the word means. For the love of things present, things material, things that are perishable. Because of a longing that represents discontentment and idolatry. Because of a search that is driven by a lack of satisfaction in God. THE INDIVIDUAL COMMITS SELF-PIERCING (to put on a spit) AND THE PIERCING INSTRUMENT UPON WHICH THEY ARE IMPALED IS THE HEARTACHE THAT IS THE RESULT OF THEIR SPIRITUAL WANDERINGS. What I want us to understand today is that a father or mother CANNOT live a life of discontentment and it not HURT THE ENTIRE FAMILY. YOU WILL NOT ONLY HURT YOURSELF. YOUR FAMILY WILL SUFFER AS A RESULT. I. GODLINESS WITH CONTENMENT IS GREAT TREASURE (vs.6-9) Now this is an interesting way to put it, isn’t it? Godliness with contentment is great gain. Or, godliness when accompanied by contentment is gain. Is there true godliness without contentment? Well, what the apostle is doing is giving us a contrast based upon the previous statement he made. There are some (false teachers) who view “godliness” (the Christian life) as a way to MATERIAL GAIN or you could say TEMPORAL GAIN. We don’t have any difficulty understanding the kind of teaching that he has in mind, because we have the same kind of teaching in our day. This teaching is very popular when you are living in a world where prosperity is available to you in the name of religion. Well, Paul is saying that godliness with contentment DOES offer gain. In fact, it offers GREAT GAIN. But not the kind that the false teacher imagines. A. STATED (vs.6) WHAT IS CONTENTMENT? Gordon Fee — “the empowering Christ gives to live above both want and plenty (Phil. 4:13). ” ESV Philippians 4:11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. So, it is not self-sufficiency, it is Christ-sufficiency. GODLINESS FOR THE SAKE OF GODLINESS — NOT FOR THE SAKE OF MATERIAL GAIN (vs.5) — THAT IS REAL GAIN. B. DEMONSTRATED (vs.7) Fee – “Material gain is irrelevant — and greed is irrational.” There is nothing you gain in this world’s riches that lasts beyond the current age. But even if you COULD hold on it forever, it is WORTHLESS compared to what the Lord is willing to give you in His Son when you find your satisfaction in Christ.