Your Daily Devotional for June 13, 2006

June 13, 2006

 

The Strength of Contentment

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

 

“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.”

 

1 Timothy 6:6-8

 

Friend, in all of my years, I have never seen a hearse pulling a U-Haul. As Paul said in verse 7 of this passage, “we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” We find throughout the Scriptures and through the experiences of life that the things that bring true and lasting joy are from the Lord. Though many hope to find satisfaction in a new car, job, or house, real joy comes only from those things that God places into the hearts of contented Christians.

 

Paul demonstrates in this verse, that the mature believer possesses not just godliness, but contentment. “Godliness with contentment,” the Bible says, “is great gain.” Godliness and contentment in a Christian’s life generates great strength and spiritual fortitude. It creates steadfastness in the believer’s heart that will withstand the temptation and lure of the world.

 

There are many Christians today who earnestly love the Lord but have lost their contentment. These Christian men and women have godliness, but are discontented with what they have. Consider the examples of men and women in the Bible who had genuine relationships with the Lord but were not satisfied with what God had given them.

 

Consider Eve. Eve was a godly woman; she communed, walked, and fellowshipped with God daily.  She had the pleasure of enjoying all the beauty of the world in God’s original design. However, this was not enough to Eve. Although Eve knew God and had a relationship with Him, she fell victim to the temptations of the devil because of her discontentment.

 

Consider Lot, Abraham’s nephew. When Abraham set the whole land before him and offered Lot anything to the left or to the right, the Bible records that Lot “lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where” and “pitched his tent toward Sodom” (Genesis 13:11-12). Looking out over that plain, Lot chose to dwell near a city of wickedness and idolatry because he was not happy with the other land that was offered. Lot was a man that knew the Lord but wasn’t content with Him. He did not have godliness with contentment.

 

What about David? David, the Bible says, was a man after God’s own heart. David sang the psalms as a shepherd boy and praised God out in the fields for all of His handiwork. As just a young teenage boy, David saw God do more miraculous things through him than most would see in a lifetime. God had blessed David and had promised his throne to be established forever, but one day, looking out on his veranda, he saw Bathsheba bathing. Taking a second look, he was no longer content with the wife that God had given him. David fell into sin and had an adulterous relationship, because he did not combine godliness with contentment.

 

Many strong men and women have become weak through a discontented heart. I want to remind you, as Paul exhorted Timothy, “godliness with contentment is great gain.” There is strength in the heart of a Christian who is content with the life that God has given him. I always find that it is the faithful, serving, content Christians who are the happiest people I know, because they realize that Christ has an abundance of resources to meet their every need, and they trust Him fully.

 

Is your heart content today?  Are you resting in Christ as your source of strength? Continue “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” Thank Him for the many blessings He has given you.  Look to Him for your strength and for all of your needs and there, you will find great gain (Hebrews 12:2).

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