Godliness with Contentment Is Great Gain
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“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Maybe you have heard this phrase before? This is not just a wise concept that a person threw together for a social media post or to put on a coffee mug – this is from Scripture itself. In fact, this is a Bible verse found in 1 Timothy 6:6.
“Godliness” and “contentment.” Maybe you have heard one or both of these words and they rubbed you the wrong way? Perhaps you have heard them a million times? Today, we are going to dig deeper into this verse.
What Was the Context of 1 Timothy 6?
In 1 Timothy 6, the apostle Paul is writing to his mentee Timothy. He is teaching about being an honorable worker, rejecting false doctrines, and then goes into verses 6-10.
Matthew Henry’s Commentary shares that those serving under masters were called to work with more effort and a cheerful heart, because of their faith anchored in Jesus Christ, who have received His free gift of salvation.
Breaking Down the Passage
1 Timothy 6:7 – “For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it.”
What are you holding on to? Is there something material that you are idolizing? Do you feel as if you could not live without this thing? Worldly treasures do not lead to contentment, but often the desire for more.
We live in a saturated society where excess is the norm. This can appear like a good thing; we have so much comfort and security that many did not have before us. We have the best health care, the best homes, the best cars, and the best food. But the best this world offers still does not compare to the glory of Christ which is to come and His Spirit who lives in the hearts of believers today.
1 Timothy 6:8 – “But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.”
Paul acknowledges that God created humanity to depend on certain things that are basic needs, so we do need to realize this. It is as if a person goes to tell someone starving on the street that Jesus loves them and passes by, without ever even offering them the practical love of Christ to meet the needs in the moment. Paul shares that yes, absolutely we should meet basic needs such as food and clothing, however there is a difference between a need and a want.
1 Timothy 6:9 – “Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.”
Wealth is not sin. Some of the wealthiest people can be the most generous. They are accountable to God for how they use the resources which they have been given. The key word is want. The desire for money can quickly lead to temptation and slavery to sin. What looks like it brings great happiness and success ends in ruin and destruction. This is because nothing we build or buy will satisfy our soul-longings for eternity.
1 Timothy 6:10 – “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. By craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”
We see the love of money is the root, or starting point, of all kinds of evil. Think about people who get very power hungry with wealth or become famous building their own personal name. The enemy does not appear to us like a creepy red devil with horns, he appears as a beautiful and enticing accident waiting to happen that lures us and wants to destroy us with the appearance of beauty.
2 Corinthians 11:14 says, “And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” Satan is the master disguiser. The word angel and light seem very good. What we might be striving for, the American Dream, the safer and newer car, or the most beautiful home in that elite neighborhood community might appear like the best option, however are we seeking God in that? Are we being deceived to believe that, “Life would be better if…?”
I recently read, “The Magnolia Story” on Chip and Joanna Gaines. After completing the book, I really grew in respect for this couple. They have done their best to live their lives in ways that honor Christ and bless others. They have mastered their crafts and valued their family. Before they ever became well-known they were living in temporary “fixer upper” flip homes which they would move out of pretty regularly to sell. Joanna was tired of not having a place to stay long term, but this was their means to live. She shares about how they downsized into a smaller home, but she realized that instead of focusing on making the home beautiful, she realized that she needed to make it more functional and enjoyable for her four children. She began to create and make spaces for them and not worry about how things appeared. No, they were not in a fancy neighborhood or living with a lot of space, but they were happy. She explains how she learned that she needed to choose contentment in the moment, in the ugly, because nothing else earthly would ever be able to help her “arrive.” We know (and she knows as well) that true joy comes from Jesus.
1 Timothy 6:6
“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” We cannot prioritize the eternal things on our own. It is not in our nature to desire the greater things. We battle with selfishness, pride, greed, and envy to name a few. Only by the Holy Spirit can we treasure Christ and His Word the most. We can be “godly” in the way we live, but not be truly content in Christ. We can be “content” with what we have, but not godly in our motives.
Today, and every day it is vital that we seek the Holy Spirit to help us live from a place of godly contentment through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is where true joy comes from. Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Remember and be encouraged that if you have Jesus, you have it all.
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