By Jeffery M. Leonard, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biblical Studies, Samford University
Godly Contentment
1 Timothy 6:6–11, 17–19
I will leave to others to judge whether it is a strength or a weakness but when it comes to vacations I am a meticulous planner.
A certain swell of pride comes with having every “t” crossed and every “i” dotted when mapping out our itinerary. Indeed I have led family assaults on the Magic Kingdom that would make the planners of D-Day envious.
One of the positives of devoting this sort of time and effort to planning is we see and do far more on a vacation than we would ever get to do if we just “winged it.” I freely admit there also can be a downside to this level of planning.
Having crafted the perfect vacation plan it can be tempting to let the plan take precedence over actually enjoying the vacation. If the plan is to make it to Barstow on Thursday then by gum we’ll drive all night if we have to.
What can happen on a well-
organized trip can happen in other areas of life as well. It is easy to lose our sense of priorities, to let something that ought to be a minor concern become a major obsession.
Few things in life are as susceptible to this sort of temptation as money. Accumulating wealth is often a side effect of living out a righteous life.
When we follow Scripture’s counsel (see the book of Proverbs for example) and work hard, act ethically, limit debt and make wise choices, riches often follow.
The problem comes when riches become the goal of our efforts rather than just the natural outflow of more noble pursuits.
Godly contentment does not depend on possessions. (6–8)
The first letter to Timothy devotes an important section to the matter of placing wealth in proper perspective.
Most important, the letter tells us, is learning to couple godliness with contentment (v. 6).
Godliness focuses on our actions; it has to do with our pursuing a righteous life. Contentment has to do with God’s actions; it marks a willingness to be satisfied with the gifts and blessings God gives us. We go astray when we transgress either of these two values — when we take ethical shortcuts to gain wealth or sabotage our walk with God because we dislike the way He cares for us.
True contentment only comes when we recognize possessions are not the ultimate goal of life. Our possessions are transient; our relationship with God is permanent.
Craving more possessions only leads to ruin. (9–11)
Beginning in v. 9 we find a series of warnings concerning wealth.
We are instructed that the desire to become rich often becomes the path that leads to other temptations.
When we live out godly lives wealth often comes. But when we put the cart before the horse and make wealth itself the goal the door is opened for a kind of corruption of our value system that leads us to pursue senseless and harmful desires.
The love of money we are told is a root of all kinds of evils. It is not that we would wish poverty on ourselves but rather that we should set our sights on righteous values like godliness, faith and love and let God work out the financial side of the ledger.
We should trust our loving Heavenly Father will provide for us what we need according to His almighty will.
Set your hope on God and store up riches in heaven. (17–19)
Perhaps the most important reason not to pin our hopes on material things is simply the recognition that these sorts of earthly possessions are so fleeting. They are here for a moment and then they are gone.
It is better for us both in this life and in the life to come to set our sights on something more permanent and ultimately more rewarding than money and wealth ever will be — God Himself.
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