The world system tells us that we must have the latest and greatest product to experience contentment. This may lead us on a mythical quest to buy a bigger house, a new car, and the have the latest technology. The problem is when we acquire the next thing we feel frustrated and unfulfilled. This is compounded by the fact there is always something else we seem to need that will finally bring us contentment.

The Apostle Paul addressed a similar problem in the early church. The people were seeking after material gain while still wanting to appear godly. Paul corrected their thinking by pointing out the sufficiency of godliness:

But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. (1 Timothy 6:6-7)

True godliness enables us to dispense of our material desires because we realize they are of no benefit in eternity. Paul echoed the sentiment of Job:

He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21)

The word gain refers to making money or acquiring wealth. Paul used this word in a figurative sense, describing one’s profit from a spiritual perspective. The word contentment denotes a frame of mind that is independent of external events and experiences internal satisfaction. Contentment isn’t getting what we want, but it is being satisfied with what we have. Paul is teaching us that contentment comes not from great wealth but from few wants. He then revealed the essence of contentment:

If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. (1 Timothy 6:8)

We unnecessarily complicate our lives when we have an inordinate desire to have more:

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:9-10)

Money is not a root of all sorts of evil, but it’s the love of money that causes us harm. People who are only satisfied with the things that money can buy are in danger of losing that which money can’t buy. In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, he warned of men who have an outward appearance of godliness, but their heart was not right with God:

holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these. (2 Timothy 3:5)

May we have not only the outward appearance of godliness, but an inner transformation that results in life of spiritual power for His glory.

Rick Higgins

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark