Seek the “Great Gain”— 1 Timothy 6:6-8
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Contentment doesn’t seem to be trending in our culture. Every television show, commercial, and advertisement is encouraging us to get more, telling us we deserve better, and prodding us that we can’t make do with the old version. And if we follow their advice and get the next best thing, our lives will be incredibly transformed for the better. Unfortunately, because of sin all human beings are plagued with a restlessness that should open our eyes to the fact that we are missing something in our lives. So, we fall prey to the encouragement to desire more, hoping to fill a void that exists in our lives.
Humans were made for a glorious purpose—to dwell with God, serve God, and be friends of God.
In God’s grace, however, this void is not fillable with the material trinkets of this world. In John Bunyan’s allegory, The Pilgrim’s Progress, Vanity Fair refers to the preoccupation with material goods of this world, which in Bunyan’s story is a fair that is held year-round to entice pilgrims (believers) on their way to the Celestial City (i.e., heaven).
The temptations found in Vanity Fair cannot give what man truly needs. Humans were made for a glorious purpose—to dwell with God, serve God, and be friends of God. Only when a person has become a friend of God through faith in Jesus Christ can he or she begin to find contentment in this life as they keep their eyes on their heavenly home. Paul writes,
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. (1 Tim. 6:6-8)
Paul reminds the Christian that what ought to be sought after—the “great gain”—is a life centered around loving God and contentment with what God has ordained in our life.
God’s children should be focused on “taking hold of the eternal life.”
We are to be Christ-centered and thankful for the basics in life, and not consumed, worried, or inordinately striving to gain more. In fact, later in 1 Timothy Paul writes,
Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Tim. 6:11-12)
Rather than being consumed by wanting more things in this life, a Christian should be focused on “taking hold of the eternal life.” We are to be living out the faith that we confess. Rather than lingering in Vanity Fair, constantly being drawn into worldly cares and desires, we are to be like Faithful and Christian in The Pilgrim’s Progress, diligently looking toward the Celestial City.
God has graciously given us many wonderful gifts in this world to enjoy.
Yet, does living out our faith mean that we can have no desires? Not at all! God has graciously given us many wonderful gifts in this world to enjoy—bounties of foods, activities, and other enjoyments. These things, however, are not to rule us or control us. They are not to be the center of who we are. We are to give thanks to God for his bountiful gifts, yet know that they are God’s gifts, and so we must hold on to them lightly and desire them only as they serve to deepen our delight in him and accord with his will.
True contentment is always connected to trusting God.
Thankfulness, patience, and trust are all important aspects of godly contentment. You cannot be content without being thankful; otherwise, you will always want more, and more, and more. Nothing will ever be enough. You cannot desire rightly without patience amid what God has appointed for you. And you can never be content without trusting God for the circumstances he has placed in your life.
As we pray and desire good things, blessings from God, we must do so in patience and trust, knowing we make our requests to a loving Father and being thankful for his sustenance through our dark valleys. With God as our friend we can be content in this world while we travel toward the Celestial City.
This article was originally published in Beautiful Christian Life’s June 2024 monthly newsletter, “Contentment.”
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