"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).
This is a very sweet formula for godliness and contentment. The contentment is provided by God, who also gives us our food and clothing:
"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matthew 6:31-33).
What is godly religion?
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" (James 1:27).
However, being godly is not the same as being religious. Most religion, including Christianity, is observance of form. It is relatively easy to be religious. If someone is godly, the world knows him as a religious man. The converse is not true. Religious people are not considered godly. They are considered hypocrites. Why? Because many “religious” people are not godly. Here is a description of religious people in the last days:
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them" (2 Timothy 3:1-5).
God gives godliness. It is not tied to religious observances. It is recognized by the fruit of the Spirit and by how we care for others.
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