GOT CONTENTMENT?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought
nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”
(1 Timothy 6:6-8)

MEDITATION:
The scriptures give us valuable instructions
about the dangers of having the wrong focus in our lives.
    “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and
      a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that
      plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love
      of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people,
      eager for money, have wandered from the faith and
      pierced themselves with many griefs.”
      (1 Timothy 6:9-10)

There was a commencement speaker who told a graduating class to
    “Make all the money you can make,
      just as long as you make it honestly.”
Sounds like good advice doesn’t it? However, if we are trying to
“make all the money we can”, then we are going to be making
money when we ought to be doing something else.

We are going to be making money when we ought to be praying,
reading the bible, or attending worship. We are going to be making
money when we should be spending time with our family, or even
getting a good night’s sleep!

The believer’s goal is not to make all the money he can. Of course
we need to provide for our family, but when we have determined
that we are going to be rich, it is at that moment that we have put
ourselves in an extremely vulnerable position.

Do you want to be content?
Then, re-read 1 Timothy 6:6-10 and think about what it is saying.

The phrase, “those who want to get rich” isn’t describing someone who
is rich; it is describing someone who has set their mind on being rich.
Have you ever done that? Then you are in great danger, because this
desire can
    “plunge people into ruin and destruction”

Paul said
    “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil”
He didn’t say that “money is the root of all evil”,
he said “the love of money” is the root of all evil.

When a wealthy person was asked how much is enough?
He replied, “A little bit more”. His response shows his
lack of contentment.

There are wealthy people who love the Lord and there are
people who are less fortunate who are chasing their own
desires. It is all a matter of focus. As believers, we should
be content with what the Lord has provided for us.

In Philippians, Paul says,
    “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have
      learned to be CONTENT whatever the circumstances.
      I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to
      have plenty. I have learned the secret of being CONTENT
      in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry,
      whether living in plenty or in want.”
      (Philippians 4:11-12)

In 1 Timothy 6:6, he says,
    “But godliness with CONTENTMENT is great gain.”

What should we be content with?
    “But if we have food and clothing,
      we will be CONTENT with that.”
      (1 Timothy 6:8)

What should be our motivation for contentment?
    “Keep your lives free from the love of money
      and be CONTENT with what you have, because
      God has said, Never will I leave you; never will
      I forsake you.”
      (Hebrews 13:5)

Our faith is shown through our priorities. When we show
contentment with what we have, we are expressing our faith
that God will always provide, because He has said He will
“never leave us, or forsake us”.

ACTION:
In the bible passage for this devotional, we see in Philippians 6:6
that Paul links “godliness” to “contentment”. In other words, we
should seek godliness (not money) in order to find contentment.

We should be grateful for what the Lord provides for us, and we
should remember that He is always there to take care of us. Does
that mean we should never have any ambitions? Of course not!
We just need to keep our priorities in order, which means we avoid
making the ‘love of money’ our focus (our idol).

We are fortunate that God has given us a way to express our faith,
and at the same time, show that we are focused on Him and not
money. When you hear someone mention that God has commanded
us to bring our tithes to Him, what kind of reaction do you have?

Do you cringe at the thought of obeying His command, or do you
think about the many ways He has blessed you? When we can find
contentment in His provisions, we look forward to returning to Him
what He has requested of those who are His. Any reluctance on our
part, shows a lack of trust that He will “never leave us” or “forsake us”,
and that He will provide all we need, including contentment.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for all You provide. Teach me
to be content with Your provisions. Forgive me for allowing
the worldly ways to convince me that You are not enough.
Create in me an energized desire to seek to please You and
to know that You are enough. You provide all the necessities
of life, and You bless me in many other ways. Thank You for
Your mercy, grace, forgiveness, love, blessings, and salvation.”

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