Seems pretty universal. With great confidence, I can say that everyone is out to gain something. Some want riches and possessions, the accumulation of wealth. Others want status, fame, position, recognition, control, or influence. Still others look to pleasure, passion, relationships, and indulgence in anything sensual or experiential. It’s money, sex, and power. Humanity’s weak points. All of our pursuits in life will line up with one or more of these Achilles’ heels. This is what consumes us and defines us. We think that if we gain such things, we will be fulfilled and happy. But that’s the old lie, first told to Eve in the garden. We still believe it.

As Paul nears the end of his letter to Timothy concerning matters in the Ephesian church, he turns his attention to the topic of “gain”.  Some in the church were imagining a form of gain that was resulting only in emptiness, while urging Timothy to tell the church that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” Everything else is a “snare” that leads to “ruin and destruction.”

That’s the word for this Sunday from 1 Timothy 6:2c-10. I look forward to walking through those verses with you.  Read the passage in advance, pray for us all to hear from the Lord as his Holy Spirit works through a frail preacher to deliver a message to ears that more often than not don’t want to hear.

Series: The Good Fight (1 Timothy)

Message: 16 – Great Gain

Text: 1 Timothy 6:2c-10

Todd Dugard

Harvest Bible Chapel

August 10, 2025

Gaining what truly matters in life means…

...embracing the gospel (v. 2c, 3b)

...and rejecting everything else (v. 3a, 4-5)

…pursuing what’s eternal (v. 6-8)

Job1:21

Philippians 3:7-9a

…and rejecting the temporal (v. 9-10)