1 Timothy 6:6 KJV says:
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
You cannot be godly without contentment.
Meaning of Godliness :
It is having a God-centered life.
It is the loving fear of God and being Christlike.
1 Timothy 6:6-11 AMPC
And it is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain.
[7] For we brought nothing into the world, and obviously we cannot take anything out of the world;
[8] But if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content (satisfied).
[9] But those who crave to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish (useless, godless) and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction and miserable perishing. [
10] For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray and have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute mental pangs.
[11] But as for you, O man of God, flee from all these things; aim at and pursue righteousness (right standing with God and true goodness), godliness (which is the loving fear of God and being Christlike), faith, love, steadfastness (patience), and gentleness of heart.
What is Contentment?
Being satisfied with what you have at every point in time.
How can I be contented with little?
Firstly, contentment is the state of one's mind.
If you're not satisfied when you have little, you won't be satisfied when you have much.
Hebrews 13:5KJV
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Being contented does not mean not desiring for more and working towards it.
it doesn't mean being lazy either.
- Being contented makes one not to be envious of others.
-You believe God will do yours as well. - Your own time will come.
- You're not competing with anyone in life.
Lack of contentment leads to convetousness or greed which leads to all kind of evil
Greed : a selfish desire to have more of something (especially money).
Covetousness : feeling or showing a very strong desire for something that you do not have and especially for something that belongs to someone else
Luke 12:15 KJV
And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Luke 12:15 NLT
Then he said, "Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own."
Ephesians 5:3 KJV
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Colossians 3:5 KJV
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Proverbs 19:3 NLT
People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the LORD.
LEARNING THE SECRET OF CONTENTMENT
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
Philippians 4:11
Contentment: It is rare in a world in which people are searching for more money, more power, more status.
But God has a different perspective:
“Better a little with the fear of the lord than great wealth with turmoil” (Proverbs 15:16).
In Proverbs 15:16, A simple life in the Fear-of-Godis better than a rich life with a ton of headaches.
Contentment is the product of a heart resting in God.
It is the soul’s enjoyment of the peace that passes all understanding.
Contentment is the outcome of our will being brought into subjection to the divine will.
It is the blessed assurance that God does all things well and is even now making all things work together for my ultimate good.
Romans 8:28 KJV
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 KJV
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
Real contentment is only possible by being in the presence of the Lord Jesus. Only by cultivating intimacy with the One who was never discontent, only by daily fellowship with him who always delighted in the Father’s will.
PRAYER POINT
*Father, please help me to be contented with with whatever I have in every point in time in Jesus name.