1 Timothy 6:6-12 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. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses
Have you ever noticed that a newborn child at rest can sleep through just about anything? The phrase “I slept like a baby” is used to describe a peaceful, contented rest. When a baby is sleeping you can pick up its little arm and it is limp. Let it fall back to the mattress and there is hardly a ripple in the child’s sleep. That kind of total rest gives us a picture of contentment. It is a life that has very little, but is content with what it has. The older a child becomes, the more restless the sleep becomes. The older we get, the more we become concerned about life, what we have and what we don’t have. That is why Jesus warned “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15) Paul was preaching the same message when he wrote godliness with contentment is great gain.
There are two universally recognized truths in the passage above.
- We brought nothing into this world
- We can take nothing out of it.
Let’s examine these truths through the lens of the Law. I came into this world with nothing, and I leave with nothing. That means all I have is the time in-between to make my mark. I have to do something to make myself important, to prove my worth, to make myself special so that others can see beyond my nothingness. I have to talk a good game, win friends and influence people. If I work at it hard enough, perhaps I can convince others that I am worth something. If I can amass enough stuff here on earth, maybe, just maybe, I will find peace and security and contentment. And who knows, maybe I can take something with me?
A farmer took his pastor on a tour of his land. The man was very proud of what he had and what he had accomplished. As they drove over the vast expanse of land that this man owned and worked, the farmer said, “Reverend, I am as good and as God-fearing a person as the next fellow, but are you going to tell me that God did all this without my help?” The pastor was quiet for a moment before he said, “Ask me that again in 100 years.”
You brought nothing in and you take nothing out. If all we had was the message of the law, we would be pretty desperate people – never happy, never satisfied, always worried.
But let’s take a moment now to consider these two truths through the lens of the Gospel message, the Good News of Jesus as our Savior. If we bring nothing into this world, that is ok, because all we need is already here: Jesus Christ and the eternal life that is ours in him. God loved us enough to let Jesus come to pay for sins and redeem us from everlasting death. Knowing Christ and Him crucified and risen again transforms my nothingness into wealth and a peace that passes all understanding. God takes my nothingness and turns it into a life with purpose. The purpose of our lives as disciples of Jesus is described in this passage as being to “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.” Take a moment now to reflect: Are those the things you are pursuing, or are your pursuits determined by what the world says you should have? Which would be better for you: A bigger house and a newer car, or more righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
When you stop to think about what is truly important in your life, it is much easier to be content with what you have while you are here. The biggest blessing that we have, and one that so often is taken for granted, is the forgiveness and life and salvation that God has given us in Jesus Christ. How often do we say, “Oh, yes, I’m a Christian, I’m a believer,” and fail to recognize the awesome thing God has done. He loved me, a nothing, who brought nothing into this world and will take nothing out of it, enough to want to make sure that I would not have to suffer the eternal consequences of my actions. God loved all people so much that He wanted to provide a way to let us escape the punishment our sins deserve. That love led Him to send Jesus to take our place in punishment and death. When Jesus died, it was to pay for your sins and my sins. When Jesus died, it was to let you off the hook. And by His rising again on the third day, Jesus has guaranteed that you have access to eternal life with God. This world is not all there is. It is not even the best there. That is yet to come. And you have a free pass to get in through your faith in Jesus.
“We can take nothing out of this world.” When heard from the perspective of the Good News of Jesus as Savior, that is not a scary prospect. We brought nothing in and we take nothing with us, but it all belongs to God anyway. And if we are going to be with Him, why do we need to take anything with us? The one who gives us all we need here has gone to prepare a place for us there.
Sometimes when I am striking a deal with someone they will say, “I can live with that.” You’ve probably heard it too, maybe even said it yourself: “I can live with that.” It is a statement of acceptance and satisfaction, and to some degree, contentment. Maybe the kind of contentment you need to have in your life, the godliness with contentment that Paul describes, is to remember what God has already done for you and given you in Jesus Christ and remind yourself “I can live with that.” It actually goes way beyond that. You cannot live without what Jesus has done for you with His perfect life, His death in your place and His victory over the grave. But try to remember these things Jesus did and say to yourself: “I can live with that.” The more you can remember that, the more you are going to be living that godly life that is content with what God has done for you in Christ.
I am content! My Jesus ever lives, In whom my heart is pleased.
He has fulfilled the law of God for me, God’s wrath he has appeased,
Since he in death could perish never, I also shall not die forever.
I am content! I am content!
(Lutheran Worship #145 stanza 1)
