True Contentment

The harvest is past; the summer is ended. Already, here and there, the bite of winter is felt. Thanksgiving Day has come and gone. We celebrate this day in a fearful time. The economy is deteriorating and bankruptcy is the norm of the day. The goods we need for daily existence continue to escalate in price. Today we have a job, are able to pay our bills, but how will it be tomorrow? The fear of global warfare is an ever-increasing possibility. We must say that the Lord has a controversy with our nation.

If there could be a humbling before God, a coming into guilt, and a returning to former values, what a blessing that would be! However, when we may see what the Lord has given in the season gone by, then there is reason to be humbled before Him. He has not dealt with us according to our sins. Oh, during this time of the year there is great cause for us to be humbled before the Lord with a thankful heart for all the benefits bestowed upon us. In 1 Timothy 6:6-8 we read: “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.”

Paul speaks here of true contentment, true satisfaction. True contentment is a rare plant indeed. It is not found in the world, and in the church very seldom. Do you know why this is? Because godliness is missed. For godliness with contentment is great gain. Godliness is to be full with God, with Christ, with His mercy, grace, and peace. It is to be full with all that the Lord is for a lost sinner. Unto godliness belongs the knowledge of what God is: holy, just, and righteous in all His doings.

The opposite of godliness is to be godless. To be without God means to have no knowledge of God, of His grace, of the way in Jesus. It means to be filled with the world and all that belongs to this world. Thus, godlessness is in all of us by nature for there is no one that asketh for God. Yet there are those who may know what godliness with contentment is, because of a God who was moved from within Himself, who because of His eternal covenant will reach for such godless people. And how is this worked by God? They are stopped by the Lord, upon their mad dash to destruction. They come to see that they have no God for their soul. They then become unhappy. The world cannot fill their heart anymore. They become a missing people. Upon their knees they begin to seek for what they are missing. There are times when they stand along life’s pathway with empty hands and with a cry in their heart, “Lord, speak only one word unto my soul.”

What an eternal wonder! At the moment of His good pleasure, He then hears the needy when they call upon Him. The love of God is shed abroad in their heart and at times they may think that they possess everything that a Christian can ever expect to possess here below. They then seek even more to adorn this godliness with a godly walk.

How much contentment may there be found in doing for God! But how little does the child of God know of true contentment here. When the Lord opens his eyes to see what he is still missing, and he may also see something of Jesus and what He is as Mediator between a holy and righteous God and an uncovered hell-worthy sinner, he will say, “Lord, it is a great gain to know Him as my Savior.”

Is there anything greater in this life than knowing that it is well for my soul? Such godliness is riches my pen cannot describe—to have God as my portion, to be a child of God, an heir of the kingdom of heaven. Yes, godliness with contentment is great gain. For such a one has enough and is satisfied with what God gives. Such a one has no need to be concerned about earthly goods for the Lord has promised that He will care for him. With all that he may have lost here below, one thing remains for him—the Lord Himself. Oh, those made godly by the Lord may say, “This God is our God, and nothing can ever separate me from this blessed state. For I am held securely in this blessed state, not by the strength that is in my own hand, but by the cords which have been laid from heaven.”

How poor is the man who knows no more than gathering treasures here below, who has nothing more than what the world offers! Soon all will be lost, for we bring nothing into this world and it is certain we will carry nothing out.

Does the changing of the seasons not tell us that here below there is nothing which remains the same? Do we not feel in our bodies that we are declining toward the grave? When the time comes when we must step out of this life, and if we have no more than what the world offers, we will have nothing. We will lose all that we have gathered together, all we have worried about and lain awake for, and we then must depart alone. What a moving thought when we have no more than a well-cared-for business, a beautiful home, a large bank account! We have nothing! But in the light of godliness, what a great gain spiritual blessings are. Spiritual blessings will not leave us in the hour of death; those riches will go with us. The closer we come to our dying hour, the more value they will have.

Should we then not seek those treasures which have eternal value? Is it wise to be so involved in the world when the time here below is so short and when the day of grace is flying away? Those who may know godliness have a much better portion. Such persons realize that they receive their earthly goods from the hand of God and having food and raiment, desire that they be content with what they have received. When they may be satisfied with what God gives, they then have everything. Nothing else is needed.

A person who seeks fulfillment here below never has enough. Fulfillment in one thing is the birth of a desire for something else. Paul knew of what he was speaking. He could experience something of this himself. In Philippians 4 he says; “For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” In this passage he points out the line where our desires must stop. When we may have food and raiment, must we not be satisfied? Food and raiment mean all that is needed for the daily existence of our family: a roof over our heads, food upon our table, and means to support us in our daily existence. When we may have that, then we must be satisfied. And if it be thus, then the Lord has heard our prayer: “Give us this day our daily bread.” We may ask for food and raiment. And when the Lord has supplied that for us, then we have received undeserved blessings.

Has He not made all well in the past season? The Lord has given food and raiment. Oh, that it would humble our hearts! May it bring us to the place where we may spread forth our empty hands saying, “Lord, not only for this life, but that I may receive that blessing which alone can help me for all eternity.”

God has blessed all of us not only with food and raiment, but also with time. Time is the lengthening of the day of grace. May the eternal God use that time to bless us with spiritual blessings. Only then we may learn what David has said, “From the end of the earth will I cry unto Thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the Rock that is higher than I.”

Rev. J. den Hoed is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Rock Valley, Iowa.

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