Hello, My Ragtime Friend

“Now godliness with contentment is great gain.”
— 1 Timothy 6:6

As I write, today is the 70th anniversary of the epic release of the Merrie Melodies “One Froggy Evening.” Hearing that on the radio this morning I was taken back to my childhood (reruns) of this memorable cartoon. Epic in nature as it stands as one of the top 5 all-time best cartoons, and it’s main character became a mascot for the The WB.

The cartoon stars Michigan J. Frog. Complete with top hat and cane, he sings ragtime, Tin Pan Alley hits and other songs from the late 19th to early 20th century. He was found hidden in a time capsule from 1892 by a construction worker on a demolition crew. He immediately breaks into song and dance with the hit, “Hello, My Baby.”

Watching the incredible sight of this frog dancing and singing, “Hello, my baby. Hello, my honey. Hello, my ragtime gal,” the construction worker is overwhelmed with thoughts of fortune with this precious find. He sneaks off with the frog and sets about to make his fortune. He eventually rents a theater to rake in the money. No one comes. He offers free admission. No one comes. He offers free beer, and the crowds rush in only to hear the frog croak.

Apparently, the frog will perform for no one except the construction worker. Now broke and insane, the construction worker sees a new building site and sneaks the frog into the time capsule at the cornerstone. Fast forward to 2056, and the building is being demolished. The frog is found by another construction worker. The frog performs and off goes the new construction worker dreaming of his coming fortune.

Don’t read too much into this as it is an analogy to a cartoon with a singing and dancing frog that is over 150 years old. Yet, I vividly remember seeing this cartoon. And the moral of the story is clear: When we are blessed with a precious gift and try to leverage it for worldly wealth, we lose both. Croak!

Paul, in his letter to Timothy, is advising him how to properly shepherd the church. He tells him (and us) in 1 Timothy 6:3-6, “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to the wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud… useless wrangling of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. Now godliness with contentment is great gain.”

In Christ, we have found a precious treasure way beyond the abilities of a singing, dancing frog. Yet, how often do we seek to leverage that new found gift for worldly gain. I can not tell you how many times I have had people say, “I tried Christianity. It just doesn’t work for me!”

No! It doesn’t. Christianity was not meant to work for you! It is about Christ, not you. Christianity was meant to work IN YOU. It is about Christ working in your life, not a grand show of your life. There is no doubt Christ desires to work in and through your life with every step you take and every situation you face. However, Paul said in Philippians 4:11, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.”

As our verse today reads, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” Christianity is about eternity before it is about today. It is about spiritual wealth rather than wealth for the moment.

My ragtime friend, or should I say, my fellow ragamuffin; I do not discount the trials and tribulations of your life. Neither does the Lord. However contentment is found in understanding who you are in Christ and who He has made you to be in any circumstance.

The show is not for the world. It is for your contentment. As Zephaniah 3:17 states, “The Lord your God in your midst, / The Might One, will save; / He will rejoice over your with gladness, / He will quiet you with His love, / He will rejoice over you with singing.” God rejoices over you with singing!

Godliness is not a path to success in the world. Godliness is the applause to the song the Lord sings in your life. “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.”

© 2025 Warren Martin. All rights Reserved.