Great Gain

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.” I Timothy 6:6-8

In terms of acquiring possessions and making money, gain is quite an attractive concept. Most people go through life constantly wanting more, and many find that temporal possessions never completely satisfy. Interestingly enough, God uses the idea of gain to help us understand spiritual truths. In the book of Proverbs, wisdom is likened unto great treasure. We are admonished to seek after it and to find it at all costs. Jesus taught His disciples to lay up treasure in heaven. In an eternal sense, the only things in life that we really get to keep are the things that we give away. The gain that is the focus in the passage above is a spiritual one, but it is felt in the physical world in a very real sense. The first ingredient we must add is godliness. Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). If we want this gain, we must put God first. The second component is contentment. Contentment is an attitude that we can decide to adopt whenever we choose. Wealth may be having what you want, but contentment is wanting what you have. Wealth can never satisfy because it leaves us wanting more, but contentment always satisfies because it fills us with gratitude for God’s blessings in our lives. Godliness with contentment is great gain!