Contentment is a state that is hard to gain but wonderful when one can truly say you feel content. Contentment is a state of happiness and satisfaction and Paul aspires that his young charge and representative, Timothy, should learn and teach how to be content. Paul himself said that, ‘he had learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in every situation, whether living in plenty or in want.’ Philippians 4: 11 – 12.
Timothy had been sent by Paul to look after the church at Ephesus. Paul had hoped to return to it but his plans changed and so in this first letter to Timothy he is giving him further instruction in looking after the church. He encouraged him to refute false teaching and one of the errors that was infiltrating the church was that godliness was a means to financial gain. Believers today are under ever greater pressure to believe that contentment comes when you have everything you want and of course you never do. Paul however is quite clear that contentment whether in plenty or lack is the goal not having an overflow of possessions and lots of money.
Paul tells Timothy 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’ (I Timothy 6: 9). There are no get rich quick schemes and the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Eagerly desiring money is a trap. Jesus assures us that our heavenly Father will look after us; we do not need to worry about what we will eat, drink or wear (Matthew 6: 25 – 32). Paul says to Timothy that if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. And ladies, our Father knows we like nice clothes and he will provide those for us! Being content with what we have is a wonderful attribute. If you have ever cleared out the house of a person who has died, it can be very distressing. We brought nothing into the world and can take nothing out. There will be many things that they valued and which they have left behind and which you may now have to just throw away because no one else wants them. It puts possessions in perspective. Our Father knows what we need and he will give us those things we need and much else besides. He is a good God who gives good gifts to his children but let us learn, like Paul, to be content whether we are in a time of plenty or in a time of lack. Contentment helps us not to worry in our time of lack and to rejoice with thankfulness in our time of plenty.
Thankfulness is the key to contentment. Let us be thankful and content people who will be a joy to those around us.
