August 7
“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 clothing, with these we shall be content,” 1 Timothy 6:6-8.
When speaking of the economy, many efforts and much discussion center around the word, “gain.” At the close of the day, does the stock market report show a gain or a loss? Does it show a great gain or a great loss? It will be a deciding factor in determining what people will do the next day, week, month, or year.
No matter what we are talking about, even if we are only engaged in playing a game, we are never pleased with a loss or losing. A gain or a loss has a great influence upon people’s emotions. If there is a gain, people rejoice, and often there is a sense of pride in accomplishment. If there is a loss, it is followed by sadness or even anger.
God’s Word has much to say on the subject of gain. The Lord Jesus asked His disciples and a multitude following Him, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Mark 8:36. What we gain in this life and in this world will be with us for a few or for many years, but in either case, it will only be a short time.
Do you really want to have a great gain? Then heed the words, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Put and keep your spiritual welfare first in the line of importance. Jesus says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” and then He promises, “all these things shall be added to you,” Matthew 6:33. Both of these statements require faith. By faith in our Lord Jesus Christ as God’s Son and our Savior, we enter into the kingdom of God and we are clothed with Jesus’ blood and righteousness. It also requires faith in God’s promises that He will provide us with the necessities of life.
“We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” When we leave this world, we will go out empty-handed. Job wrote, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return,” Job 1:21. In the Book of Ecclesiastes, we read, “As (a son) came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, to go as he came; and he shall take nothing from his labor which he may carry away in his hand,” Ecclesiastes 5:15.
The apostle urges contentment with the necessities of life. “Having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” How content are we with only the necessities of life? Listen to people complaining; many complain because they do not have the luxuries that others have. Many complain about their lot in life because they always want more and more, and very often they want more at the expense of others and through handouts!
The apostle Paul gives us a good example to follow. He said, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content,” Philippians 4:11. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews wrote, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you,’” Hebrews 13:5.
The apostle James tells us that it is foolish to get so wrapped up with this life that you forget about having faith in Jesus as God’s Son and your Savior. James writes, “What is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away,” James 4:14.
With faith and trust in Jesus, who redeemed you, not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood shed on Calvary’s cross, you can say with the apostle Paul: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain!” Philippians 1:21. When we die with a living faith in Christ, we enter into heaven, and by God’s grace we gain eternal life! “Godliness with contentment is great gain!” Amen.