“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
The Apostle Paul wrote in our text that “we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” The Greek text has “nothing” at the beginning of this verse for emphasis. “Nothing we have brought into the world and nothing we can carry out.” Job 1:21, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked shall I return there.” Ecclesiastes 5:15, “As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, to go as he came and he shall take nothing from his labor which he may carry away in his hand.”
People who have a love of money are always discontent in life. The more they have the more they want and the more they want the more discontent they become. Proverbs 27:20, “Hell and Destruction are never full, so the eyes of man are never satisfied.” Too many people spend too much time pursuing that which can bring them no peace or contentment, and they ignore the things that have eternal value. Ecclesiastes 5:10, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income.” Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Rather, our text says, “having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”
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.
Friday Devotional: July 31, 2026
In Christ,
Pastor S. Henry
