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)

Learning To Be Content

It is not easy to be content. The desire for the good things in life has always tugged at the heart of men to want more, gain more, and enjoy the best. Wars have been fought because of greed. Families are destroyed by husbands and wives working to attain the dream of wealth, never growing in their love for one another until it is too late. Children become latch-key products of parents who are more concerned about a bigger house, new cars, and the world’s best toys. The untold story is the sad commentary of those who spend a lifetime gaining all the fineries of life and finding themselves at the end of life alone and unloved. So many lives were destroyed for what gain?

There is nothing wrong with wealth and enjoying the good things of life. The problem is not the riches of the world but the poverty of heart. Godliness does not allow the heart to consume itself with the pleasures of greed and avarice. Having a godly heart is not so much about a religious stance but a deeper understanding of what is of greater value. Money can never buy a baby’s smile. Having all the best in the world will not bring happiness. Money is green but can become the blackness of depravity and destruction. God directed man to have dominion over the earth, but He warned men about allowing the world to have dominion over their souls.

Contentment is a subjective concept. If a man seeks contentment to gain wealth and pleasure, he will not be content. Having enough to the greedy heart is always just a little more than what a man has. True contentment is when the heart focuses on the reality of the world’s treasures. Everything – without exception – is vain when sought for in the world. The Ancient Egyptians left a legacy of failing to take anything with them when they died. Tombs have been unearthed for thousands of years and are filled with the materialism of people who thought they could take it with them. Museums are overflowing with that failed religion.

Learning to be content is the key to true happiness. It begins by realizing that as the man Job observed, he came naked from his mother’s womb, and he died naked. At the end of his story, Job left all that he had – fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys; all of his houses, furniture, land, crops, servants, and family. They buried him, and his bones are lost to the shades of history. His only remembrance is through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Contentment is where the heart realizes what is important in life. Food is necessary to fuel the body. Clothing is essential to protect the body. Nothing else is needed except for a roof over the head and a means of travel. The American dream is to fill up the house with all the world’s stuff and, if needed, rent a few storage facilities to store all of the extra stuff; and to what end? Because the heart is not content, the credit debt consumes the life of the family.

Learning to be content comes from viewing life from God’s word. Having a relationship with a spouse, enjoying family time together, sharing fellowship with others who love the Lord, and finding joy in a quiet sunset, music that warms the heart, and a gentle stroll down the path with a loved one hand in hand. Godliness opens the eyes to what is really important in life. Seeking treasures outside this world will bring greater joy and more profound satisfaction. The rats are the only ones winning the rat race; then they die. Live for Jesus. Find contentment in the joy of knowing God’s love through the knowledge of His word.