Contentment
“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” I Timothy 6:6 (NIV)Are you content? That’s a thought-provoking question worth taking time to answer.
Contentment is a deep satisfaction with what we have and with who we are. It is not something that usually comes naturally, or easily. Some people go through life without ever feeling content. They always want something more, something better, or something different. How sad!
Our Bible verse is short, but it contains a very important truth: If we want “great gain” or true riches, we should seek to develop Godliness with contentment in our life.
A Godly person seeks to please God, to obey Him, and become more like Him. Contentment grows out of our relationship with God as we realize more and more just how much He loves us and all that He has done for us. We can rest in the sure provision of God. Not only are we content, we are grateful!
Contentment is much deeper than happiness. We can feel so happy when we get a new outfit, or when a friend says something nice about us. But happiness depends on circumstances and those change all the time. That new outfit may go out of style in a short time. The friend may say something critical of us tomorrow. Our feelings will change and then we may not feel so happy.
Many things in the world work to create discontent in us. Everywhere there are ads: on TV, billboards, magazines, newspapers, store windows, even on clothes. Advertisers want us to buy their products. They spend a great deal of time and money studying what appeals to people and then they design their ads to get us to buy.
Advertising isn’t wrong. Sometimes it gives us useful information. But it is important that we understand how advertisers try to create a need for their product. They want to convince us we must have their product and we’ll be unhappy without it. If we believe everything ads tell us, we’re likely to feel discontented.
If you ask your parents for something, are you satisfied with their answer? Or, do you nag them if they deny your request? What about your prayer time? Is it spent begging God for a long list of things you want? God delights in us and it’s fine to ask him for things, just as it’s okay to ask our parents. But then we must rest in their answer, knowing that the Lord, and our parents, are wiser than we are.
Sometimes the answer is “no” or “not now”. That’s probably not what we want to hear, but now we have a choice to make. We can get angry, pout or feel depressed. Or, we can remember the words of Psalm 118:24: “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” We must learn to make up our mind to be content despite the circumstances.
The Apostle Paul wrote that he had learned to be content in whatever circumstances he found himself, including during his times in prison and when he was in want (Philippians 4:11-13). He could do that because he kept his eyes on the Lord and trusted Him to bring good out of every situation.
We all face difficulties in life. We do not always get our way. But let us make every effort to grow into Godly, contented women. This is great gain, and pleasing to our Lord.
Copyright, 2001, 2009 Laurie Latour.
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