“Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8).
Are you a person who is content? Contentment is foreign in our materialistic world. Scripture teaches that contentment is the opposite of covetousness. Covetousness is to lust after things God has not given us, and the world is full of covetous people. The philosophy of this sinful world strives to make us discontent with our house, car, job, spouse, money, clothes, etc. Think of all the TV ads that say we cannot be happy unless we have this item or that gadget. How often do we go to a closet filled with clothes yet we express our discontentment? We say, “There’s nothing to wear.” How many of us complain, “There’s nothing to eat,” yet the refrigerator is filled with all kinds of food. We have so much, but covetousness is a sin that’s present in prosperity. The more we have the less we are satisfied, and the more we want the less we are thankful to the Lord for what He has given us.
Contentment, on the other hand, is a grace that comes from Jesus Christ. To be content is to be satisfied with the circumstances in our life and the things we possess, which come not by chance but by our heavenly Father’s will. Contentment is the eye of faith that looks to God and says it is well with my soul because God’s way is holy, just, perfect, and always good. Therefore, I thank God for everything and in everything. The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11: “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Whatever circumstances the will of God placed the Apostle Paul, whether rain or drought, fruitful or barren years, meat and drink, health or sickness, riches or poverty, freedom or prison, single or married life — he learned to be satisfied.
What about you? Can you truly say, “Lord I am content with what You have given me; I am content because I know the forgiveness of my sins and that everything in my life is ordered by the hand of my gracious and loving heavenly Father who gave His Son for me”? By the grace of God, are you able to say that you’re satisfied with the will of God and that you want His good, perfect, and acceptable will in your life? God’s perfect will for you may be the way of suffering or sickness, poverty or pain, or even death of a loved one or loss of your job. How will you response if this is God’s perfect will for you? Will you be content with our heavenly Father’s will? Will you say with Paul, “I know how to be abased and I know how to abound, in all things I have learned to be content?” Ask the Lord to fill your heart with the grace of contentment as you walk by faith in Christ so that His name will be praised by your lips and life.