Finding True Contentment

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Scripture Text:  1 Timothy 6:3-10

1 Timothy 6:6

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

(ESV)

Which comes first, Godliness or contentment?  In chasing contentment, we face this question.  We may think that if I become more Godly or spiritual, I will find contentment.  However, on the other hand, we may believe that the removal of the things in our lives causing lack of contentment would make us godlier.  The balance in this dilemma is finding contentment no matter what the present circumstances are in our life (Philippians 4:11).  The Apostle Paul found this level of contentment in his life, giving us an example to follow in our own personal pursuit of true contentment.

Finding true contentment involves,

1)      Rejection of false teaching (1 Timothy 6:3-5) – Paul’s instructions to Timothy in this passage are quite clear with him telling Timothy those not in agreement with the Lord Jesus Christ have conceit and understand nothing.  Their conceit is pride that causes divisiveness with the teacher spewing his or her falsehood having to resort to defending their teaching through the creation of division.  Paul also mentions those teaching falsehood viewing their form of godliness as a means of financial gain.  This has not changed in our modern society as we now see preaching using God talk to appear godly while the pastor lives extravagantly off contributions used to support the spreading of a false gospel.  The Apostles did not preach the Gospel as a means of financial gain but out of love for Christ and a commitment to fulfilling their missional role of spreading the Gospel and making disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20).  This missional commitment caused some to observe how they were able to turn their world upside down (Acts 17:6).  Those preaching with a goal of financial gain will compromise truth for they must preserve their financial gain by ensuring they do not step on any contributors’ toes.  This is sadly no different than a politician not being honest to preserve the flow of donations into their campaign.  What the world and church needs are men and women dedicated to declaring biblical truth and trusting God to care for their financial needs.

2)      Finding contentment in God (1 Timothy 6:6-10) – Paul is writing this passage while sitting in a Roman jail, awaiting execution for teaching his faith.  While he could have complained about the injustice of being in jail for his beliefs, he instead writes that godliness with contentment is great gain.  While the content of Paul’s instructions to Timothy throughout this epistle indicates godliness, we must wonder if his godliness has contentment while in jail.  1 Timothy 6:7-10 provides the answer with Paul emphasizing that true contentment is not due to what material possessions we have.  True contentment is satisfaction at having our need for food and clothing met.  Someone in jail like Paul could not expect anything more than the meeting of these basic needs and had to learn to trust God for even these basic needs.  However, when we live in an affluent society it is easy to fall into the temptation to seek satisfaction through the accumulation of material possessions.  Modern television preachers often play upon this desire by distorting sound biblical teaching to mean God wants everyone to be rich and if you give to their ministry, God will bless you with wealth.  Philippians 4:19, something Paul wrote while imprisoned for his faith, does not say God will make us rich, but that God will meet our basic needs.  Matthew 6:33 promises all these things to those seeking the Kingdom of God.  Taken in its context, things are basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing, not wealth (Matthew 6:25).  The wealth of a Christian is not what they have materially but what they have spiritually, an eternal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

The process of finding Godly contentment is a continual process of loss of desire for worldly things and the development of a greater desire for the things of God.  Romans 12:2 reminds us that this process involves the renewal of our minds.  We must learn to say no to our former fleshly pursuits of contentment that left us empty and replace them with the pursuit of knowing God and His Word. 

Psalm 1 reminds us of the blessings we can experience when we pursue greater knowledge of God and His Word.  Using word imagery, this psalm equates one having a desire for the Word of God to a fruitful tree planted by streams of water that does not wither.  In contrast, the psalmist equates one in pursuit of worldly contentment to chaff blown away by the wind, illustrating the deception of seeking contentment in worldly things that only provide temporary happiness but no lasting contentment.  I challenge all reading this to take some time to reflect on what you are doing to seek contentment.  If it is not a godly pursuit the challenge is to replace it with Godly pursuits that provide godly contentment.  My prayer is that all reading this will find true and lasting contentment through a closer relationship with Jesus, our savior who died for us.  If you have not done so, I challenge you to take the first step by praying with me to accept Jesus as your Savior,

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, was buried, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Congratulations on taking the important first step.  You now have eternal life as promised in John 3:16, but godly contentment is an ongoing process.  This process begins with learning more about the truth contained in the Bible.  Just as we gained academic knowledge through systematic teaching, we learn knowledge of the Bible by becoming part of a church teaching the Bible.  In addition to acquiring knowledge of the Bible, at a church we also make friends with others that believe as we do.  These friends are the ones that will help us learn just as our fellow classmates did in school.  Psalm 119:105 uses the image of a lamp lighting our feet as we take our next step.  It is a dark world, but everyone has a bright light to light their path through the darkness of the world in the Bible.  The challenge for each of us is will we use the light.