“Contentment” – 1 Timothy 6.6-10a

1 Timothy 6.6-10a – “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. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into may foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.”

“Contentment” is defined as “the state of feeling or showing satisfaction with one's possessions, status, or situation.” Those who are content don’t want any more stuff than the stuff they have. It takes different things to make different people content. Some people are content with very little. Others need quite a lot to feel content. Still others will never be content regardless of what they accumulate.

Paul writes Timothy saying, “If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” Do you know anyone who would be content with only food and clothing? I don’t. We think we also need a large home (at least a thousand square feet per person!), the best clothing, the nicest toys, a few cars in the garage, a boat, four-wheelers, regular vacations, etc. Without all these things, some people would be depressed.

However, Paul reminds us that “we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” If only we all could be more like Job who when it seemed everything had been taken away from him for no good reason said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised” (Job 1.21).

Are you content with what you have or are you always seeking more? Remember that people who want to get rich fall into all kinds of troubles. Do you love money and things more than God? Which would you more easily give up if you had to choose? We are called to seek godliness over wealth because “godliness with contentment is great gain.” May we trust in the Lord and not things and money.