What Do You Need To Be Content?

It is the simple things in life that make us feel comfortable, isn’t it? Right at this moment that I’m writing this I don’t feel the need to have anything else. I have my clothes to wear, cold water to drink, food to eat, and in my heart I feel a great sense of contentedness, and this is the main topic point in our verse today. 

1 Timothy 6:6-11  “But godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”

The definition of “content” is a very simple one, as it means to feel pleased, or satisfied.  To feel happy. If you have something like a car and it works just fine as it should, it may be a handful of years old with a bunch of miles behind it, but it still works properly, being content is not feeling the desire to go and get a brand new one just because your neighbor did. They see other people with something and they want to have it too. It is the “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality, just never content with the things which you have.

You do not need a lot of possessions to be happy and get by in this life. You don’t need to have millions of dollars in your bank account. Happiness is not something that you can buy, it is something that you can feel, and this is something that I can relate to. As a child, did you ever see a commercial on TV of some sort of toy? Well I got one of those toys one time, but after playing with it for a day I realized that it wasn’t as great as the commercial made it seem. In fact, I have had just as much playing with toys that I have created myself than any that I had gotten as present.

Godliness with contentment is great gain, Paul wrote, and he wrote again in Philippians 4:11-13  “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Wherever he went, whatever he had, the Apostle Paul was content. Whether he was full, whether he was hungry, whether he had things or not, Paul was content. He wasn’t looking at the possessions and things of others and desiring to have them. He was content.

For some people, they can never seem to have enough. They always want more and more, and their hearts become filled with covetousness. They want what they don’t have, and when they get what they think they want, they want something else. That is the trap of covetousness. Enough is never enough. 

We can’t take our things with us when we did. All the money, all the gold, all the houses and cars, it will all remain behind when you die. So, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:1-2

The things of God will last forever, so until that day comes, be content with the things that you have! What do you need to be content?

In Christ

Andrew

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