Contentment
There is great gain in godliness with contentment. (I Timothy 6:6)
Read: I Tim. 6:6-10; Prov. 15:16; Phil. 4:11; Heb. 13:5
What Is God Saying?
Paul spent a greater amount of time sending down the roots of the Gospel and establishing the Church in Ephesus than anywhere else. It was an important base for the Christian mission and was situated in a large, sophisticated center of the Roman world. It was the chief place of worship for Artemis (Diana) of the Ephesians. A Temple constructed in her honor was listed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was in Ephesus that Timothy was given the task of supervising the Christian community. He would need all the support and advice he could get. Paul knew it and, remembering the conditions that existed in Ephesus, Paul had some important things to share. In this celebrated outpost of Rome at its best and worst, there were all the evils that plague any society sold out to pleasure, greed, and lust. Few people were content. There was the scramble for wealth, the love of money, a morbid desire for controversy, rampant envy; even Christians were wandering from the faith through their craving for money. They were finding out, too late, that the god of mammon is a hard taskmaster and brings more pain than gain to his worshipers. In that climate, Timothy needed to know that godliness with contentment is gain.
How Does This Apply To Us?
This message should not be lost on us who live in a world awash in greed and luxury, in a world sold out to the hollow excitement of pleasure and wealth at any cost. As the planets outdistance the moon, so our age has surpassed the days of Roman paganism with its godless, restless discontent. More than ever, we need to learn the lesson and make it the aim of our prayers-godliness with contentment is an attainable goal, and with it comes again, the sacred pluses of God's peace, God's approval, God's well-done, and a conscience void of offense toward all.
Pray With Me
Lord, there are times when I feel I am fighting a losing battle when others fail to understand. Sometimes the ground I have gained seems to be lost because others are impatient to criticize. Help me over these rough places, Lord, by this truth gain only comes through absolute contentment in You. Fill all my horizons. Let Your glory and honor become the keenest longing of my heart. Let me be obsessed with the beauty that I see in Jesus. Then I will live above the obstacles that block my path. Whether surrounded by friends or enemies, I would be conscious of all the beautiful, positive things that come to me through faith: Your unfailing providence, Your consistent watchfulness, Your peace that passes all understanding.
Help me, Lord, to be content in whatever state I find myself, whether I am around those who have found contentment in You and so are patient toward me or those who find no peace in God and show no patience toward others. In Your love may I be filled to the singing point with blessings, even though I may be called to walk a hard and lonely path of duty. Whether I sail with favoring winds or fight contrary gales, whether I abound or am abased, grant that I would find, cherish, and never cast away contentment in You. Help me do all things, bear all things, and be all things in the strength of Him whose redeeming power and deathless love can never fail. This is a great gain. To strive for less is to lose. As I found in Christ my salvation, help me find in godliness my contentment.
To the praise of His glory whose indwelling presence is the only secret of continuing contentment. Amen.
Moving On In The Life of Prayer
If we want to realize gain for our financial investment, we look for a reliable company with a good earnings record. If we want to gain spiritual well-being, contentment, and the joy of the Lord, we need to invest more time (our best time) in prayer at the Throne of Grace whose earnings record is sound and whose dividends never fail. Godliness, contentment, and gain; they go together and they grow together—especially in prayer.
