Godliness #3—Contented Godliness

Godliness is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. And if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 1 Timothy 6:6–8

What do contented people gain from godliness? If contentment indicates a state of satisfaction with God’s providence in our lives, how could we even desire something more? The answer is as simple as it is profound: Contentment with our portion in the physical world leaves room in our souls to hunger for God and the expanded experience of his goodness we will have in the future. Because life is not limited to the here and now, we must enlarge our vision. Our quality of life in the age to come, after the resurrection, is not dependent on our material success in this age. So not being caught up in the relentless pursuit of ever larger bank accounts, houses, cars, or spheres of influence, frees us to pursue God and the goodness he will pour into our lives then. Sometimes we experience more creature comforts now. But hunger for God’s future grace will motivate us to get closer to him, to sense more of his work in our lives. The more we experience of him, the hungrier we become for more of what we have enjoyed. So “godliness” is the term we use to indicate a life lived seeking to enjoy as much of his grace as we can.

O Fount of Every Blessing, my heart sings your praise and hungers for more to praise you about. Grant me the grace to be content with the peripherals of life, so with all my heart I can seek to know you fully.