Great gain.
We want that.
We all want that.

Paul said, “ Now godliness with contentment is great gain”. (I Tim 6:6)

How true. Godliness with contentment.

“So, I’ll follow God and be content with where He leads and what He gives.”

But, that’s easier said than done for our flesh-filled, wandering hearts who are constantly chasing contentment.

So many desperately think it is just around the corner. It’s so easy to fall into this trap, only to be disappointed again and again.

“If I just get that job, get married, get a raise, buy a house, if I have a baby, if I lose some weight…”

“If I had a clean house, if I paint that room, get a new outfit, buy a cuter couch….”

“If I pay off this debt, if I had a different job, if we buy a bigger house…”

There is nothing sinful with these things, except when we look to them for contentment instead of God.

And then, when these things fail to satisfy, many who look for contentment in things other than God, begin to look for contentment in destructive ways.

“If I take this drug, have this affair, get out of this marriage… “

And in looking for contentment in ungodly things, in ungodly ways, human hearts find only more discontent and more misery.

There is nothing wrong with enjoying the blessings God has given, we just can’t make them the source of our happiness.

And this mindset comes, as we ask God to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Over and over.

It’s not a one-time thing and Paul, himself, said this was something he learned to do.

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:11-13)

This is a hard thing but not an impossible thing. And as we LEARN to be content, as we allow the Lord to strengthen and remind us daily to look to Him first and foremost for our satisfaction, we will find the changing circumstances of this world affect us less and less.

We can lose things and not lose hope.

We can hope for things that don’t come and still have peace.

We can walk through fire and not smell like smoke as we keep our eyes on Jesus who, alone, brings blessings from hard things and beauty from ashes.

He is the One who satisfies. As we daily drink from the Living Water, we find our thirst for other things become less and less and we learn to be content.

And that is GREAT GAIN!

readTimothy

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