Many in our world desire more than what they have–at most every level. Maybe I should say, we all want more–at some level. This world is full of those pursuing riches of cash, riches of land, riches of toys and entertainment, riches of dress and clothing, riches of recognition, riches of pleasure and comfort, and riches of position or honor. Sure, many are on the path of denying themselves of these great desires knowing that they can become vices, but the temptations to have more and more are nevertheless ever before us. We simply can’t escape the machine called marketing. It’s everywhere–commercials on TV, commercials on websites, commercials on podcasts, commercials on emails, etc. In fact, as I’m writing this article, a marketing email came across my screen to my distraction. Marketing has a mind of its own, and the algorithms built into the social media platforms, search engine browsers, and the like are a non-stop feed of trying to get us to want more and more of what they have, which they think is what we want. This is no surprise to us. If you have a smart phone, TV, computer, email, or even a phone, you’re battling the sales pitches, convincing advertisements, and products and services made-to-order. What’s really weird is when you search for a product on google only to find it now being advertised in your emails or other websites you visit.
What are many of their goals? Your happiness, your comfort, your satisfaction, your enjoyment, your image, your personal development, your everyday needs, etc. etc. These may not be wrong in and of themselves, because in some cases they do help us in everyday 21st life; however, we’re often sucked into them because they appeal to our desire for gain. To prove this, simply take an inventory of your closet. If you haven’t sorted and purged lately, then you probably have enough clothes for the next two generations. Still aren’t buying the argument? Take an inventory of your gear for your hobbies (hunting, fishing, crafting, hiking, etc.), do you have enough gear to supply a small army or assembly line? What about your coffee mug or ice-cooler selection? How many YETIs or RTICs does one person need? We could go on and on, but we all get the point. We want more than we have because we often find ourselves discontent with what we have. That’s part of the human condition called sin. We don’t like to admit it, but it hits home when the product or service purchased no longer makes us happy and we need to go find the next iPhone or Android or whatever to keep feeding our dissatisfaction. It’s always been this way. It’s why we have wars. It’s why we have addictions to alcohol, opioids, porn, and the like. Our hearts are restless…as one old saint said. We are all simply on a path of longing for more gain.
Is there hope for us? Yes and amen. There is hope. Listen to what the apostle Paul says to Timothy:
“…godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment.”
1 Timothy 6:6
What an incredible verse for us in the 21st century who are full of desiring more–the paradox of the modern human.
Notice from Paul’s instruction:
- There is great gain to be had…
- And that gain is tied to godliness with contentment…
- Godliness means…respect for God that affects the way a person lives.*
- This word is used 15x in the New Testament by Paul and Peter, and it carries with it an overflow of living that is built upon a respect for God. In other words, it’s like the saying that goes, “…emulation is the highest form of adoration.” Emulation is living like or taking on characteristics of someone as the highest sense of regarding or respecting that person. We all get this practically. It’s being around someone that we respect or admire, and then quickly finding ourselves talking like them, picking up their mannerisms, or even dressing like them.
- Contentment means…state of being [satisfied] with one’s circumstances.**
- The root of this word is found 258x in the New Testament, and is used by Paul 80x (or 31% usage). In other words, Paul was adamant about the Christian seeing their circumstances as God’s gift, and the place to store up for what’s to come. As such, the meaning of this word centers around looking at your circumstances–that are obviously not some sort of sin–as enough. “It is not a passive acceptance of the status quo, but the positive assurance that God has supplied one’s needs, and the consequent release from unnecessary desire.“***
- Godliness means…respect for God that affects the way a person lives.*
Paul goes on to say in his first letter to Timothy that, “…we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.” His point is simple–we’re just passing through. And so, he goes on to instruct Timothy not to be rich in the world (i.e. focusing solely his efforts on the things he can have or enjoy in this world), but instead to view his circumstances in this world as a gift, and to then, “…to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.”
The result of such living, Paul instructed would actually be, “…storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.”
Incredible.
How Does This Apply To Us Today?
- Ultimate gain is to come…
- One mystery of the Christian life is that while one may enjoy things in this life, this life is not the ultimate place of enjoyment. No, no, for the Christian, the promise of ultimate enjoyment is in the life to come. The hereafter is one aspect that motivates present living. That’s why Paul could say, “…forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus…for our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory…” Phil. 3:13b-14a, 20-21a
- God is a patient God, and He is a rewarder of His people. Believe that gain is to be had.
- Your life committed to the Lord accompanied with contentment is a MEANS to gain…
- Simply living a godly life in respect to a love for and honor of God, while at the same time being discontent with one’s life is not a means to gain in this life and the life to come. In other words, discontentment will destroy you–emotionally, spiritually, and even physically. If you are unable to bring your spending to a place of control, if you can’t stop day-dreaming about another spouse, if you can’t stop thinking about the other job, etc., then you’re going to bring problems upon your life now, as well as hinder spiritual effectiveness and blessings in the future.
- Pray for contentment. Plead for contentment. Battle for contentment as you live a life according to and bent under the Word of God.
- God’s gives you HOPE by the fact that He sent His Son to live the life you couldn’t live, to die the death you wouldn’t die, and to be raised from the grave in order to promise that you and I would have a life of fellowship with Him into eternity…
- You and I both know that these appetites in the here-and-now are hard to replace by thoughts of the hereafter. We don’t like waiting. It’s hard to pass up that hot chocolate chip cookie even though we have high cholesterol. Why? Because we want the sugar rush more than we want to avoid some far off idea of a clogged artery that we can’t see. It takes discipline and restraint to delay or to deny. That’s uncomfortable. And if you’re like most folks, then you can relate to losing hope waiting on God. But we know we should.
- We also know that we shouldn’t stop trying to curb those appetites and to replace them with godly endeavors and ambitions. Even more, we all know that this battle is not going to end until we see our Lord face-to-face, and that can be discouraging.
- However, there is HOPE. God sent His Son. And as a result…His grace is sufficient for you…! Amen and amen. We can have more of God’s grace in our weakness of not wanting to wait and live with contentment. Consider Paul’s statement in 2 Cor. 12:9, “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”
- God’s power is supplied in your humility and acknowledgement of need, so that you and I can live a godly life full of contentment.
Not feeling content? Run to God…admit your need. And find Him sufficient to meet you at your weakest point. He humbles the proud, but lifts up the humble.