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. - 1 Timothy6:6-8 ; KJV
Contentment is one of the most difficult Christian virtues to attain, yet it is one of the most crucial virtue needed to enjoy relationship with God and people around us. We live in a world that is hostile to contentment. Temptation to be discontent is everywhere. We are daily bombarded with advertisements telling us we are incomplete and unfulfilled. Friend’s achievements sometimes stir up our sense of inferiority, our lack prove to us that we live a wretched life. We are in the world full of lack of satisfaction. In all these, how should the kingdom people live?
What does contentment actually mean?
Contentment means to be completely sufficient, to need absolutely nothing. It means to be fulfilled, satisfied, and complete.
The 3 Stages of Life
The three stages of life is given the acronym, “BED”:
#1: Stage – 1: Birth – At birth we brought nothing into this world (1 Timothy 6:7). When we entered the world, we came with only two things: (I) our bodies and (ii) our life. Beyond these, we were stark naked. We had nothing else and we will take nothing in return journey (Job 1:21; Ecclesiastes 5:15-16).
#2: Stage – 2: Experience – This is the stage between birth and death – it is the stage of life. In the stage of experience, we need some necessities that we must have to sustain life. The three essential things needed in this stage of life are:
(I) Food – Exodus 21:10
(ii) Clothing – Exodus 21:10
(iii) Shelter – Ecclesiastes 7:12; NIV
A striking point was made by William Barclay: It is not that Christianity pleads for poverty. There is no special virtue in being poor, and no happiness in having a constant struggle to make ends meet. But Christianity does plead for two things:
• Christianity pleads for the realization that it is never in the power of things to bring happiness (Luke 12:15).
• Christianity pleads for the concentration upon the things which are permanent, the things that a man can take with him when in the end he dies. (John 6:27).
#3: Stage – 3: Death – The fact of death is an absolute certainty. At death, we carry nothing – absolutely nothing out of this world. We will leave this world just as we entered it, with nothing.
Ponder on the following:
√ Godliness with Contentment is a great gain - 1 Timothy 6:6
√ Contentment gives freedom from the love of money - Hebrews 13:5
√ Contentment is the price tag of a true soldier - Luke 3:14
√ Contentment is the pathway to fulfilling your Purpose - Philippians 4:11-13
√ Contentment is a shield, it delivers from evil - Proverbs 19:23
CONCLUSION
The word contentment means an inner sufficiency that keeps us at peace in spite of outward circumstances. True contentment comes from
© Revd Dr Tade Obaniyi,
Set Man, Dayspring Vision
[WhatsApp: 07031020015; E-mail: dayspringvision8@gmail.com]
No comments:
Post a Comment