Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: Proverbs 14-17
     New Testament Reading: 1 Timothy 6

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs (1Timothy 6:6-10).

Paul contrasts two lifestyles as options for believers: Contentment and Covetousness.

Christians are to be satisfied and sufficient, and not to seek more than what God has already given them. But godliness with contentment is great gain (v6).Godliness without contentment would give a one-sided testimony. Contentment without godliness would not be distinctively Christian. But to have real godliness and to be satisfied with one’s personal circumstances is more than money can buy.

Contentment is one of the greatest assets of life. The reason we should be content is that we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out (v7). Nothing in the entire world can add to the inner person. Thus, if we have food and clothing (and we may also include shelter here), we should be content with these things.

Paul is simply advocating the simple life. The basic necessities of life are what ought to make Christians content. Paul does not condemn having possessions, as long as God graciously provides them (v 17-19). He does, however, condemn a self-indulgent desire for money, which results from discontentment.

Paul speaks plainly on the lifestyle opposite of contentment, the life of covetousness. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation (v9a). To the covetous person, making money or obtaining wealth becomes the goal. Accumulation is the aim of one’s life. Yet, according to Paul, money is deceptive. It promises what it cannot deliver—contentment. Real contentment is not obtained by the addition of things, but the subtraction of things. Losing the desire for more leads to a contented Christian life. The only exception is never losing one’s desire for more of Jesus.

Wrong desires plunge people into ruin and destruction (v9b). It is not money that is a root of all kinds of evil, but the love of money (v10).Some people are always grasping at money. This is the curse of too much of modern living. Some Christians, unfortunately, have been trapped in this way and wandered away from the faith. In straying from the straight path, they have been caught in the thorn bushes and some have and pierced themselves with many griefs. There is no kind of evil to which the love of money will not lead people once it starts to control their lives.