1 Timothy 6:6-8 “But 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 raiment let us be therewith content.”
My Daddy, Rev. Charles W. Savage, II, was called to preach in the early 1970’s. I cannot remember the year, but I was very little. In 1974 he moved our family from Ohio to Missouri, so that he could attend Bible College. We left behind most all of our relatives, i.e., aunts, uncles, grandparents. In Daddy’s family, he was number nine out of twelve children, and one of maybe two, who moved farther than a one hundred mile radius from his parents. After he graduated, he felt the Lord wanted him to go work with a pastor in Texas. This move took us even farther from our family. Though my mother, bless her heart, followed my Dad everywhere he took us, she was not extremely thrilled with the idea of Texas. Being born in Pennsylvania, she was (and is) very proper in her actions, her dress, her demeanor, and found the people here to be somewhat gruff, and VERY un-accepting of “Yankees.” She jokingly would say that her life verse was, Philippians 4:11, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever “state” I am, therewith to be content.” Still, no matter where the Lord’s work took us Daddy always made sure our needs were met, and Mother always made a comfortable home there for our family. And, regardless of the income we never lacked in anything. Our “anything” may not have been “everything”, and it may not have always been the “newest” thing, but we always had what we needed. We had the Lord, we had a home, and we had food, clothing, and each other. We were content.
In today’s world, the very idea that home, food, clothing, and family would be enough to keep a person satisfied has become quite foreign to us. We are so bombarded with materialism that contentment is very hard to find. We find ourselves looking at what others have and coveting after it. Our eyes bug out at material wealth and our tongues hang, like a dog, as we wish and want for what belongs to someone else. Some will even forsake God, their family and home to have BIGGER and BETTER “things.” The only thing that Christians ought to “pant after” is a closer relationship with the Lord.
Coveting will cause you to have the wrong priorities. It will also keep you from trusting God. I’m reminded of the rich man (Luke 12:15-21) that had so much that he had to tear down his barns and build bigger ones. He trusted in his “stuff” instead of in the Saviour.
Coveting will cause you to harbor hatred and bitterness towards those who have more material wealth than you do. This jealousy can start to fester in a person and cause them to do things they never thought themselves capable of, like stealing, adultery, and murder.
It is so easy to get caught up in the acquiring of material wealth that you forget to trust in the Lord to meet your needs. I am not saying that in order to be God’s child you have to live in poverty here on earth. But we do tend to leave the path of righteousness to pursue our own fame and fortune. After acquiring either, we thirst for more. It seems the more you get, the more you want. Then, after a while, you wish you never had it. You may not visibly see the benefit of living an honest, loving, righteous life but God promises to reward those who live for HIS honor and glory. Remember our text verse, “But godliness WITH contentment is great gain.” We have to learn to be content. We have to learn to value spiritual things more than physical things. As Christians we should not be seeking happiness in material wealth, worldly fame or financial gain. Being content comes from believing that God is sufficient to supply our needs. With God there is inner peace, true joy, and full assurance of salvation. These are things that can NEVER be taken away from you. These riches can only be found in HIM, and they are the only things that will truly satisfy your soul.
