Godliness with contentment is great gain 
6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
11 But you, O (woman) of God, flee greed and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. 1 Tim 6. 6-8, 11
We live in a world that is constantly saying, you need more. You deserve more. You will be happy when you have more. More money, better clothes, more friends, more social contacts, more time for yourself, a better car, a nicer house, more…. more…. more…..
Since the formation of Eve, God has put in the hearts of his daughters a desire to be loved, cherished and to have their lives spent for a purpose. Many times as women we become discouraged and hurt if these things don’t seem to be fulfilled in our lives.
Each of us hold our own candle of beauty for others to enjoy. Yet at the heart of Eve’s fall in the garden the serpent planted the seed of discontent. She was the crown of God’s creation. Not an afterthough, but an exclamation mark! A crescendo! I do all things well! Look at my creation it is good!
Eve had beauty. Nothing was lacking: full provision of food, beautiful creatures to enjoy in the garden and daily walks and talks with the Creator God. Yet in the middle of perfection she wondered, is there more? Am I missing out on something? Has God withheld something from me that would make me more…. So she stumbled and fell horribly…. into the web set by the trickster, then enemy.
We each have a piece of Eve in us. There is a natural beauty that God blessed us with. We have been given gifts and talents, and have been surrounded by people to love and tasks to perform. We start down a path that leads to trouble, when we like Eve start doubting the goodness of God to us and wondering has God forgotten me? Maybe he didn’t make me alright. Maybe he was sleeping when I was formed in my mothers womb. The seed of discontent can lead to so many dangerous pitfalls and horrible disastrous mistakes. The old serpent, satan is still trying to get into the heart of women and to warp their sence of wellbeing and security in Christ.
The beauty of women comes from without and from within. A woman at rest, fulfilled in herself and her life put those around her at ease. They enjoy and are blessed by her presence, her words and her wisdom. A woman who is frustrated and striving within herself can never give off this beautiful scent of godliness that comes from a heart content. Content with God and content with one’s self.
But Jesus says, I am enough. Be content in me. I watch over the sparrows, and I see when one bird falls. Look at the flowers of the field that I created. I clothed them more beautifully than Miuccia Prada or Coco Chanel or Victoria Beckham. Can’t I take care of you? Oh you of little faith.
Jesus then said, Seek first my kingdom, and my righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Mt 6.33.
The world around it is always striving to be younger, thinner, more beautiful, more exotic…more loved, more admired… But we have a great hope and a confidence inside of us that those who have not met Christ can never have. We have the King of the Universe living inside of us. This is the key that gives us confidence and an assurance of our wellbeing.
2 Kor 10.12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
God made us each to be individual and not a copy of someone else. Many people wish they looked like some movie star that they admire. Or they wish that they had something their neighbor or friend has. But God says to us, I made you perfectly. You are just like I meant for you to be. I didn’t want you taller, or thinner, or wiser, or stronger. I made you just the way I wanted you to be. Now you must trust me to complete the work of shaping you into my image. You can love yourself and be a fountain of blessing to those around you. You can be content. You can be confident.
What are you pursuing? God says, Pursue Righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. In pursuing these we will forget about ourself and begin to see life with new eyes of faith. What were you created for? You are more than a trophy to be shown off to men. You are my masterpiece, designed to bring light and love and beauty to everyone around you. Freedom comes when we stop thinking about ourself so much. And we begin seeking God’s heart and God’s ways. That means letting the Word of God saturate your thoughts, and taking time to enjoy the presence of God. That means looking at the world throught the eyes of Christ and enjoying what He is doing around you, and in you.
Godlinees with contentment is great gain. Pursue Godliness: How do we become Christlike? How do we put off our old man and its desires and live in the newness that Christ promised us? We allow ourselves to come to the cross and to be washed and made new in Jesus. When we are faced with trials or temptations we start to ask ourselves, What would Jesus do? How does He want me to live? How can I be an example of Christ to those around me? What do I need to let go of? What do I need to pursue? How can I portray to those who are watching my life the love of God and the heart of God?
Godliness is Christlikeness.
This Christlikeness comes from being with Him. We are changed as we meditate on the Word of God, and we spend time in His holy presence. Be holy as I am holy says the Lord. This is not something we can do on our own, but only by allowing the life of Christ to live through us. This is a surrendered heart and a life given completely to God.
Gal 2.20 I have been crucified with Christ. Its no longer I that lives, but Christ that lives in me…. and the life that I live (here in the flesh) I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Surrender to the work of Christ in your life. Let him lead you in big and little decisions. Let Him perfect the work he started when He saved you and brought you into His family. We were saved by grace. And by grace we live. God has new mercy for us every morning. He is our righteousness and He is making us like him as we live in Him.
Pursue patience. I may not have the things that I desire right now, but if I will seek God and His kingdom He will reward me in His perfect timing. I don’t have to wait until I reach my goals before I can enjoy life or be happy. Right now I can through faith and patience obtain the promises of God. Today I choose to be thankful and joyful, and not to resent my circumstances. I choose to think God’s good thoughts and concentrate on His ways.
We need patience with ourselves and others to be content. If we are always unhappy because life isn’t perfect, we can not find contentment. It is a wonderful thing to release people from your own expectations and to allow Christ to work in their lives. It’s a wonderful thing to be patient with your own shortcomings and trust that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete His great work inside of you.
Fil 1.6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. God is not going to give up on you. He says, ” Never will I leave you, Never will I forsake you. ”
Because of this we can enjoy our life with Him, and enjoy the ride. Some days will be beautiful, others will be difficult, but our perspective will keep us looking up and trusting in our good Heavenly Father to complete the work that He began inside of us.
Pursue faith….. How do we become content? By believing that God is and that He rewards those who seek Him. We build up ourselves in faith by letting our image of God grow through looking at Him in the Word. Speak out loud what He says about you. Speak out loud what He has promised to you.
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing…the Word of God. Sometimes a specific verse will stick in your mind like glue. That is the Holy Spirit getting our attention that He wants to show us something. When we pursue an understanding of His nature through His word, our faith grows and we become more and more like Him.
Pursue love…. Love the Lord, your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your Strength… and Love your neighbor as yourself. How do you want to be treated? Treat others like you would like to be treated. How do you want to be spoken to? Speak to others how you would like to be spoken to. Love is the greatest power in the universe. It is more powerful than hatred, or jealosy.
Love never fails. Look at 1 Kor 13 and see what God has to say about love. Pursue love, God’s kind of love. Give yourself to others how God gave Himself to you. Extend mercy, extend kindness. Give hope and a good word to someone, even when they don’t deserve it. When you love those who are unloving, then God begins to do something bigger than yourself. He begins to shine through you so brightly that the darkness starts to shatter. How much love does God have? Thats a whole subject that we can’t start to finish because I don’t have room to write about the amazing, abundant, freely given, overwhelming love of God.
Love freely. You were loved when you were unlovely. You were forgiven when you were lost in your own world of darkness. God has freely loved us and given us His love to pass on to those around us.
Pursue gentleness. In fashion magazines today, women are portrayed as tough, strong and independent. Today’s woman doesn’t want to be vulnerable, or used by anyone. So she has become stronger, more self reliant and harsher. She works out at the gymn. She works harder at her job. She demands attention and she demands respect! But Christ is calling us to become more gentle, more giving, more forgiving, and more able to carry others burdens. We don’t have to shut people out of our heart to be strong.
True strength is to be so strong inside that you can show your soft gentle nature to others, even if they reject you or hurt you. Pursue gentleness. This is pleasing to the Lord. You don’t have to be a man in a man’s world. We need to be a woman in God’s world. That brings contentment. That brings fulfillment. So let’s stop striving for things that don’t satisfy and start pursuing things that do: Righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Remember that Godliness with contentment is great gain!
A thankful heart is a contented heart. Make a list of things you are thankful for. Today thank God for the beauty that He created around you. Thank Him for the people He put into your life. Thank Him for music, for literature, for the sence of smell. Thank Him for your sight. How blessed we are to see this world that is so amazing. Thank Him for breath. Thank Him for your health and home. In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you! 1 Thes 5.18
Enjoy what you have been given. Be thankful and pursue what God treasures. Be the woman that He has created you to be, with a beautiful heart and a wholesome blessed life.
