Today I've been pondering the verse “ But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6) It's an easy verse to say, or even quote to people, but I think it's a hard verse to truly live out. The context of this verse, is Paul dealing with people who breed controversy and strife – people who just in general cause friction in any given situation.
Paul is telling Timothy that this world has nothing of lasting value to offer. He goes on to say if we have food and clothing we are to be content with that. In the book of Philippians, Paul takes it even a step further and says he has learned to be content no matter what the situation, whether hungry or fed! (Phil. 4:11-12)
That seems a little insane to me. Be content no matter what the circumstances!? But what about when I'm starving? What about when my friend just got a new car? What about when I have to be in the hospital? What about...what about...what about...
There are so many scenarios in which we can find ourselves malcontent. It's so easy to feel the need for things we want. It's easy to feel that the world (or even God) is unfair in the hand it has dealt. It's so easy to be jealous and whine about what others have. It's just so darn easy. At least, that is what the Devil would like you to believe!
BUT! There is freedom in contentment.
Paul says the reverse this way : “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1Tim. 6:9-10)
What kind of trouble can we get ourselves into? Well, the obvious is shoplifting or other forms of stealing. But what about greed, or jealousy? Those two work on our minds and hearts and have the potential to drag us into unhappiness or even depression or they could work their way into friendships and cause rifts or arguments.
The worst, as the verse says, is wandering away from the faith and piercing ourselves with many griefs. What would that look like? I think it could look like working 24/7 to gain money to buy, buy, buy, and forget about our families; or starving ourselves to be a certain shape or dress size; or something as extreme as killing ourselves to get away from debt we've accrued.
Contentment looks a lot better than the alternative, doesn't it? But, how, you ask, do we attain contentment?
Before anything else, I believe we have to realize that we cannot be content on our own strength. As Paul says it in Philippians 4 – I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. In the context of that verse, he's talking about contentment! If Paul needs Christ's strength to be content, I surely do too!!
Then, I think the first action step is repentance. Simply acknowledging to God that what He has provided is enough.
Next, would be being thankful for what God has give us. That list is usually pretty long. A sample of a few things I'm grateful God has given me : salvation, a husband who loves me, a son who is healthy, food for every meal, fans in the summer, clean water to drink, and so on.
My husband and I ask each other what we are thankful for every night before we sleep. It started as an exercise to help me remember the goodness of God, but now it also helps me be content! It's been so much fun to hear what my husband has to say. Some nights it's just that we've made it through the day, others it's simple things like we got to have five minutes alone.
After that, we could do as Paul says in the original passage we were looking at : “But you, man (or woman) of God, flee from all this (this being the destruction and piercing ourselves with many griefs), and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called”
The last thing I want to say, is to echo the last part of what Paul had to say – take hold of the eternal life to which you were called. In the grand scheme of being content, I think this is the big key. We must look up and forward before looking around us. If we are only living for our temporal, mortal life, then we are giving up so much! When we look up, we get a better perspective on what is needed and good. Instead of needing those new pair of shoes, we can make do with what we have and perhaps even give the money we would have spent on someone else who desperately needs any pair of shoes.
All in all, when we let go of discontentment and focus on being thankful and content, we are free. Free from unattainable ideals, free from the slavery of jealousy or greed, free to bless others instead of being tied down to ourselves!
XO,
Bliss
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