Kory and I have been listening to a great sermon series about “growing in godliness.” One of the verses that stood out to me is from 1 Timothy 6:6, where the apostle Paul, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, admonishes young Timothy with the truth that “godliness with contentment is great gain.”
While I don’t want to neglect the instruction on godliness, I want to focus on our responsibility to be content. For it is not just godliness that profits us, but godliness “accompanied by contentment.” One without the other is not going to bring about great gain.
While the dictionary describes contentment as happiness or satisfaction, biblical contentment is much more than that. It is an inward trust in God’s sovereignty and goodness which produces the fruit of peace, joy, patience, and thanksgiving in the life of a believer, regardless of outward circumstances. It is not anxious, envious, greedy, prideful, grumbling, complaining, resentful, impatient, or restless. It is just the opposite — it is being free from concern and complaint because you have an inner trust and reliance on God and His goodness in each and every situation.
Contentment is a virtue, but it’s not one that comes easily. When living on a boat, it can be common to develop a state of discontentment, especially when the weather is stormy and you’re stuck on the boat in a rolly anchorage with heavy wind gusts that are uncomfortable at best. It can arise when right after fixing one problem, another one surfaces, and then another. Discontentment can surface when you have to pick up anchor and move at a moment’s notice because the right window of opportunity just came, and you have to drop everything you had planned. Discontentment can emerge when you’re tired and sore. And it can definitely come when you look back and long for what you used to have, maybe a home, a well-stocked grocery store, a car to easily get around, family and friends nearby, a church home, daily comforts, hot water, or simply the stability that comes from living on flat land.
Whether you’re on a boat, on land, in a plane, or wherever you may be, contentment is key. So, not only is it imperative that we strive to grow in godliness, becoming like christ, but we should make every effort to become content as well, for only then can we gain unimaginable profit.
So what is the secret of contentment? The Bible has a lot to say, and I will only scratch the surface here, but the apostle Paul gives us a glimpse into the secret of finding contentment. He says:
The first thing that encourages me in these verses is that the virtue of contentment can be learned (Phil. 4:11). I can grow and mature in contentment in every situation, and so can you. We can turn discontentment into contentment at a moment’s notice. We can face hard circumstances and still have inner peace and cheerfulness. But the key, and the most encouraging thing of all, is that I can do all of this through Jesus Christ who gives me strength.
The secret of contentment isn’t in having more money, possessions, achievements, a job, a hobby, recognition, health, beauty, or perfect circumstances. The secret of contentment is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. And the measure to which we have a relationship with Jesus is the measure to which we can grow, flourish, and prosper in any and all circumstances. Contentment truly does bring great gain!
This list is not exhaustive, but the Bible gives us more instruction on how to develop and grow in contentment. Here are a few of those ways:
Fear the Lord: “The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble” (Proverbs 19:23).
Obey the Lord: “If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment” (Job 36:11).
Calm yourself and be quiet: “But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content” (Psalm 131:2).
Do not covet, crave, be in want, lust after, or yearn for more or different: “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.'” (Hebrews 13:5).
Love God and others, not money or things: “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6:6-10).
The pursuit of contentment is going to require diligence and perseverance. It will require spending time in the Word of God to know the character of Christ, developing a relationship with Him, and following His commands. Contentment does not come naturally. We must pursue it, strive for it, and turn to The Lord at the first sign of discontentment.
If it’s going to require such work, why should we pursue it? We should pursue contentment because:
- God commands us to be content (Heb. 13:5);
- A discontent, complaining, and grumbling spirit is sinful (Num. 11);
- Desiring what God has not given to us is the root of even more sin (2 Sam. 11);
- Contentment with what God has given recognizes His sovereignty and shows a humble submission to His will (Phil 1:12);
- Without contentment we cannot experience the peace of God (Phil. 4:6-8);
- Godliness with contentment is a priceless treasure (1 Tim. 6:6); and,
- Contentment gives God the worship that is due Him!
Contentment is a work of grace that God gives to His people through a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. Look to Him! Learn from Him. In your discontentment, run to Him. Rest in His providence rather than complaining against Him. Inwardly trust and rest in Him! And understand that God has a purpose for whatever you are facing.
Perhaps He means to strengthen us in patience, good humour, compassion, humility or meekness….Perhaps He has new lessons in self-denial and self-distrust to teach us. Perhaps He wishes to break us of complacency or undetected forms of pride and conceit. Perhaps His purpose is simply to draw us closer to Himself….Or perhaps God is preparing us for forms of service of which at present we have no inkling.
J. I. Packer, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, 86.
Whether you are in need or in plenty, in hunger or fullness, in sickness or in health, in poverty or abundance, trust in God. Delight in His Word. Meditate on His Word day and night and hide it in your heart. He will strengthen you and supply all that you need. Your responsibility is to look to Him, trust in Him, and abide in him! This is how you gain both godliness and contentment, which will bring you great gain and priceless, everlasting treasure!
