“Now godliness with contentment is great gain.”
—1 Timothy 6:6
The Apostle Paul says to be content, be satisfied with the necessities of life. Paul is not condemning material possessions if God gives them to us, but the accumulation of these things should not be the overwhelming passion of our life. Mark 8:36, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” What Scripture condemns is a self-indulgent desire for money that comes from a heart of discontentment. This is a person who is not satisfied with the Lord’s provision. The supreme goal of every believer must be a passion to glorify God and not chase after riches. “For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away like an eagle toward heaven” (Prov. 23:5). “Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt. 6:31).
In other words, humbly accept what God provides and avoid a life of covetousness. To do this you need to distinguish between your personal wants and the basic needs of life. Remember, God owns everything, we are only stewards, and all things must be used for God’s glory. Cultivate a thankful heart. This is not easy, even Paul had to learn to be content. How did he do it? “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4). Discontentment is overcome by a life of rejoicing. You see, when you know what you really deserve because of your sins, yet because of the grace of God in Christ you received everlasting life, you can be a rejoicing person. Recognize God is sovereign over every event in life, and that nothing happens by chance. God has a purpose for everything He sends into our life, even the unpleasant things. Spend time in God’s Word because this is the way the Holy Spirit instructs you in a life of contentment. The Apostle Paul learned to be content when he had little and plenty because he knew, through Scripture, that both conditions were the providential working of God. Have you had unpleasant things happen in your life? Learn to be content by meditating upon our sovereign God who saved you, loves you, and does all things for His glory and your eternal good.
Beloved, if we are to glorify the Lord through a life of contentment then we must be a people who rejoice in the Lord always, we must know the Word of God, we must meditate on Christ’s person and work, and we must faithfully come before the Lord in thankful prayer. When we are diligent to do these things then we will learn, by God’s sanctifying grace, to be content in every situation whether hungry or full, sick or healthy, rich or poor, because we know the Lord is the Giver and Sustainer of both. We can learn that having food and clothing with these we shall be content.
Tuesday Encouragement: August 4, 2026
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry
