Daily Devotional – Thursday, February 3, 2022
Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:6 (NKJV)
Baraka is jealous because his friends live in more spacious and lavish houses. Not to be left out, he contacts a real estate company and lists his house for sale. He intends to use the money to buy a house that will make his friends envious.
A few days later, he finds just the right house advertised in a newspaper. Excitedly, he tells the agent that he has decided to buy the house. The agent asks Baraka a few questions about the house. “I’m afraid you are describing the house you are living in, sir.” The agent tells Baraka
The Unending Craving for More
There is a little of Baraka in many of us. Our mobile phones, computers, houses, clothes, and other possessions are the best until we meet someone else with what we think is a more advanced type.
We agonize and get stressed trying to match up with our friends and strangers. We think acquiring more money and newer versions of what we own will bring us satisfaction. Unfortunately, even after acquiring what we crave, we long for more.
Godliness with Contentment is Great Gain
Ironically, we fail to find value and satisfaction in what we possess. Just as with Baraka, if we looked afresh at what we have, we would appreciate it more. Indeed, what we neglect and despise would be a dream gift to many other people.
Apostle Paul’s counsel on contentment is as critical today as it was for first-century Christians. He told Timothy, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” (1 Timothy 6:6-7).
Understanding Contentment
Contentment is the attitude of fully trusting in God. It means understanding that possession of material things, by themselves, does not lead to happiness. Contentment implies that even if we lose everything we own, we can still be happy because God owns us.
We lack contentment when we believe that getting more material things will meet all our life’s needs. When we are deeply saddened by losing earthly possessions, we should ask whether we have contentment.
Contentment is Appreciating God’s Blessings
We may not have everything we crave, but God is pleased when we appreciate what we possess. Placing our trust in money and material things and not in God is a form of idolatry. In contrast, godliness with contentment is a great gain.
Almighty Father, teach me to be content with what you have blessed me.
Human wants are insatiable, the more we get the more we want.
May God help us to be contented with what we have.
Amen, Daktari. Well-said.