Godliness with Contentment is Great Gain

“The grass is always greenest right where he’s standing.”

I recently heard these words spoken by a bride about the groom to whom she was making vows. This is a picture of contentment. Sated. Satisfied. Making the best. Not pining for more.

In the Book of First Timothy, Paul says: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”

Is there godliness without contentment? Or contentment without godliness?

From the moment we are born, we are striving. First for milk, later for gold. But in striving, there is an attitude that says, “If this is all I get, it’s enough.”

Over the years, my faith in God has helped me recalibrate my expectations, to not be disappointed when I don’t get the things I want or situations don’t work out the way I hoped. Psalm 23 has been a guidepost.

When David praised the LORD, his green pastures weren’t lush garden-like surroundings. Likely, they were the modest growth of the Judaean hillsides, a semi-arid terrain. “He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.” God’s provision is enough.

It’s all-too easy to become dry and parched in an existence that can suck joy: a lost job, a diagnosis, aging, an untimely death, terrorism, natural disasters, war.

Where do we find true contentment? Our tendency is to look everywhere but up: self-help, self-care, body work, exercise, diet, meditation, hygge, feng shui, career, marriage, parenting, politics.

None of these are bad things. But disconnected from the Creator, none can bring true contentment. It is only contentment with godliness that brings true peace.

What does godliness look like? Micah 6:8 tells us: “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Inner contentment is achieved by trusting and believing:

“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us…For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Godliness says, “Jesus, you are LORD of my life,” Contentment says, “You are enough.”

Do you get annoyed and frustrated easily and make sure someone else knows? Do you see problems or opportunities? Are you aways pining for more or satisfied with what you have. Christians, let’s be sure that we reflect God’s character, no matter our circumstances.

Praise God. Be content. The grass will always be greenest right where you are.

“Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed,

for His mercies never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is Your faithfulness!

‘The LORD is my portion,’ says my soul,

‘therefore I will hope in Him.’

The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,

to the soul who seeks Him.

It is good to wait quietly

for the salvation of the LORD.

It is good for a man to bear the yoke

while he is still young.

Let him sit alone in silence,

for the LORD has laid it upon him.

Let him bury his face in the dust—

perhaps there is still hope.

Let him offer his cheek to the one who would strike him;

let him be filled with reproach.

For the Lord will not

cast us off forever.

Even if He causes grief, He will show compassion

according to His abundant loving devotion.

For He does not willingly afflict

or grieve the sons of men.”

Lamentation 3:22-33