Something Greater

A Devout Life: Part 2 Wealth of Devotion A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough. (1 Timothy 6:6-8 MSG) Paul describes "wealth" as something other than money, property or power over others. For Paul, a devout life is the "rich simplicity of being yourself before God". The English Standard Version translates this verse a bit differently: "Godliness with contentment is great gain." CONTENTMENT: autarkeia "ow-TAR-ki-ah (self-satisfaction, contentedness or competence); from autarkes (self-complacent or contented); from autos (self, through the idea of a baffling or backward wind) and arkeo (to ward off, to avail, or to be satisfactory, through the idea of raising a barrier) This "simplicity of being yourself before God", or "godly cont...

A Devout Life: Part 1 The Sufficiency of a Simple Life A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough. (1 Timothy 6:6-8 MSG) What is a "devout" life? DEVOUT: eusebeia "yoo-SEB-i-ah" (piety; specially the gospel scheme); from eusebes (well-reverent or pious); from eu (good or well) and sebo (to revere or adore) "Devout" at its root means to revere or adore, to feel deep respect or admiration for something, to love and respect someone deeply. The Greek root word is translated as "devout", "religious", or "worship". A devout life, then, means a life lived reverently towards God, deeply respectful for His character and work, enjoying and adoring Him as Creator, Master, Savior, Companion, and Lover. Paul is challenging an epidemic ...