Being content has to do with the state of happiness and satisfaction.  Ask yourself about what could be the source of your happiness and satisfaction. 

For one, it’s family. For another, it’s their career. For someone else, it could be money in the bank, etc.! 

Now, imagine that everything, whatever that may be the source of happiness or satisfaction, is taken away from you. Will you still maintain that state of contentment? 

That’s why Paul in his first letter to Timothy says that there’s great gain only when we combine contentment with godliness. That’s how I read this piece of Scripture. 

Godliness is choosing to live in a way that is pleasing to God. That’s what Paul is recommending Timothy to do. Of course, he had written this letter knowing that most Christians were probably struggling with how to maintain their state of contentment. 

Also, it could be because of people choosing to pursue wealth and anything related to being rich. Paul wanted Timothy to stay away from that. 

Paul warns Timothy, just as he’s warning all of us today that wealth is not evil in itself, but the love of it will set us up for temptations, which in turn create foolish, harmful desires. As a result, we will face ruin and destruction. 

Ruin and destruction do not affect us only, but also the people in our lives, including our surroundings. 

Paul adds that love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. And, because of it, some wandered from faith and now experience all forms of grief (see 1 Timothy 6: 10). When you think of griefs, what come to mind is loss. 

How do we reach the state of contentment and how do we become able to maintain it? 

First, Paul says that we have to pursue the following: 

• • • Righteousness. 
    • Godliness. 
    • Faith. 
    • Love. 
    • Endurance (Steadfastness). 
    • Gentleness. 

Second, Paul says we have to fight the good fight in the faith, and hold onto the eternal life. What he implies here is that everything we’ve found in this life (wealth, families, careers, communities, etc.) is temporary. It’s only for a season. All these things come and go away. 

[bctt tweet=”God lives yesterday, today, and forever. So, when we make God be the source of contentment (happiness and satisfaction), no matter how things change in us or around us, we’ll always be happy and satisfied. ” username=””]

For your personal study, please, read 1 Timothy 6: 6-12.