Because as Paul tells Timothy, with the combination of godliness and contentment, great SPIRITUAL gain is the result! A life of godliness and contentment will avoid the piercing pains of the consequences of evil. A life of godliness and contentment will lead to taking hold of the life that really is life – eternal life, which will be an entirely different KIND of life, lived without the PRESENCE of evil. It is for providing this kind of life, that Jesus made the good confession AND the good sacrifice before Pontius Pilate, and was raised from the dead on the third day.
This is the deposit entrusted to us – the gospel message of our salvation. This is the deposit which was given to us by people like Timothy's grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice, the seed of faith, the root of trust in God. This is what we cling to in times of fear or temptation or suffering or purposelessness – that God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.
And our task is to receive this Holy Spirit, and guard this spiritual deposit that has been entrusted to us. Do not let it be stolen from us through peer pressure, or intimidation, or threat of censorship, or the contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge. Rekindle the specific gifts of God which came to us with this deposit, gifts of healing or prophecy or generosity or hospitality. Rely on the Holy Spirit for help, and let the Holy Spirit guide us in the direction of righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.
Gracious God, help us to be content with our position, our possessions, our simplicity and our Saviour. Enable us to keep the commandment without spot or blame, in Jesus' name....