“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”
1 Timothy 6:6-8
I had to reorient my thinking when I left Mormonism and became a Christian. For much of my life I had believed that happiness could be achieved through success. However, I learned that while it can be satisfying to set goals and achieve them, other times I felt shattered. One day I had reached my goal, and the next day it had vanished like a rug pulled out from under my feet.
In the Christian faith, we are led by God to be content with whatever He has for us in life. The poor in spirit and those who mourn are blessed (Matthew 5:3-4); we rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4). But choosing contentment is a learned response that requires practice and can be hard.
Because I now know I belong to Jesus Christ who fully paid for my sins, I try to make plans for my life “with an open hand.” Rather than be too attached to earthly dreams, I desire to do as Paul urged us: be content in all circumstances. Moment by moment we can appreciate what we have because our ultimate destiny with Christ has been secured for us.
In the Christian faith, we are led by God to be content with whatever He has for us in life. The poor in spirit and those who mourn are blessed (Matthew 5:3-4); we rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4). But choosing contentment is a learned response that requires practice and can be hard.
Because I now know I belong to Jesus Christ who fully paid for my sins, I try to make plans for my life “with an open hand.” Rather than be too attached to earthly dreams, I desire to do as Paul urged us: be content in all circumstances. Moment by moment we can appreciate what we have because our ultimate destiny with Christ has been secured for us.
Scripture Focus
Mathew 5:3-11
Insight
"Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God… in every condition.” (Jeremiah Burroughs, 1650)
Bible In A Year
- 2 Kings 18-19
- Proverbs 20
- 1 John 5
