“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” 1 Timothy 6:6-7 NIV
The Bible is the word of God, the word of God is truth, and the word of God is Christ Jesus; therefore, Christ Jesus is the truth. My brothers and sisters, this makes the following very easy to understand.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” John 1:1 NIV
We need to see daily, that our Lord’s way is the best way. We should strive to seek out and find our contentment in all that He desires for us. We need to remember why we are here: simply to serve.
Jesus says:
“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 NIV
We need to encourage others daily, plant the seed of the word, (whenever possible), and serve others by first serving Him. To find contentment, in all He desires for us, is critical in living our lives for Him. He does not make this a secret. Throughout His word, our Lord gives us hints as to how we get there. We need to spend time with Him alone, and to listen for His voice.
Jesus said,
“A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. John 16:32 NIV
Jesus spoke these words shortly before He went to the cross, a time when any man would have the right to be falling apart. Yet as Jesus bears the burden of all of our sin, preparing to feel the wrath of God Almighty, He expresses contentment in knowing that the Father is with Him.
The Father wants us to see that we can find contentment in Him:
“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord” Jeremiah 29:11-14a NIV
To be content, you need the truth, and again, the truth is the word of God. Once we discover the secret to this contentment, our lives become peaceful and joyful. Calm are the seas of our lives within this contentment. God’s ways are perfect, His plans are perfect, and His timing is perfect. These are absolutes.
It is written:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:8-12 NIV
This is what God, our Heavenly Father, tells us, to let us know just how great He is and what we can expect in Him and within the contentment of His godliness. This is truly one of the many “secrets” that leads to contentment in our daily walk with him: simply to be satisfied with what He desires for us.
Seek Him today, and He will be found by you.
Godliness with contentment is truly great gain!
Praise be to Christ Jesus our Lord!
Barnabas
Special thanks for this guest submission by Barnabas.