Vol. 18 No. 39 | October 3, 2016
Writing to his young friend, Timothy, Paul reminds him: “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, NIV)
If godliness with contentment is great gain, what is contentment without godliness? By definition contentment is a state of happiness and satisfaction. Hmmmmm. That sounds a bit shallow.
The images that come to mind when I read that definition is of a “contented” cow standing in a field chewing her cud. I see a cat sitting on the real of the deck looking out over the back yard feeling satisfied that he has everything under control and saying: “I’m fine. Don’t bother me!” I see a faithful old hound dog laying on, or under the porch, who lazily raises his head offers a single wag of his tail to acknowledge your presence and to remind you, “Yeah, I see you and I hear you. I need a nap.” I see a baby unhappy and desperate for a bottle suddenly become calm and resting in the arms of her mother as she drifts off to sleep.
Contentment alone not only seems shallow, but temporary. The cow is contented until she gets hungry. The cat on the deck is contented as long as you leave him alone. The dog is contented until she sees a squirrel run across the yard, or hears you rattle his food dish. This contentment is based on temporarily having immediate needs met. Once the need arises again, the contentment fades.
I am like that…sometimes. When I am hungry, feed me and I’ll be happy. When I am tired, let me sleep for a while and I’ll be fine. When I am lonely, spend some time with me, then leave me alone and I’ll be fine.
Without the godliness you have the chaos Paul describes in verses 1-5: “He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions, and constant friction.” Yuck! I have been there. No more!
Without the godliness you have what Paul describes in verses 9-10: “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” Yuck! I have experienced enough of that and seen enough of that to know that I want no part of that.
Add godliness to the equation and it changes completely.
Godliness with contentment is real contentment. Yes, I want that!
Godliness with contentment helps us realize “we brought nothing into this world and we can take nothing out of it.” Yes, I want to accept that and live like that.
Godliness with contentment enables us to say, “If I have food and clothing, I will be content with that.” Yes, I’m not quite there yet, but I am trying to get there.
Maybe the cow in the field, cat on the deck, the dog under the porch, and the baby asleep in the arms of her mother are not bad images after. Maybe they know something we mature types knew at one time, but have forgotten. Maybe they have a connection with the Creator that we ignore. Maybe they know more than we think they know. Maybe they know that godliness means He has this so I don’t have to worry about it. Maybe they know that godliness with contentment is great gain.
Tom
A Norvell Note © Copyright 2016. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.