Godliness with contentment is great gain

Now 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 clothing, with these we shall be content. (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

A few weeks ago I wrote about being content no matter the situation —  in good health or in poor health, during a perfect summer or during natures fury. (LINK)

Finding contentment is difficult in our modern society. In fact it is an uphill battle with satan working very hard to make sure you don't find it. 

We are always wanting more and even when we don't want anything, everyone around us reminds us that we do. This world is bent on destroying our sense of contentment. All the advertising that bombards us from our televisions, newspapers, womens magazines, radio, billboards are designed to disturb our contentment and make us question our contentment. Aren't we told often to upgrade phones because they are getting "too old" or that our wardrobes do not contain the latest fashions. Or we need to upgrade the car, our home, renovate our houses, to buy the latest gadget as it will be a time-saver. It is endless. 

This constant bombardment has created restless people who continually seek escape by buying more and more in search for contentment. 

We as Christians will not find contentment in "things", only through Godliness. When we accept that God is the source of the roof over our heads, food on our tables, clothes to wear and everything we need we will be content. He provides all that we need—which is very different to our wants or desires. . .  And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

One way to avoid the temptation of restlessness is to not read the plethora of women's magazines that are available for sale. Some magazines contain up to 85% advertisements trying to trap you into buying things you certainly do not need. They are not informative magazines, they are product catalogues. The other issue with many of these magazines is they constantly tell you that you are not good enough, not pretty enough, not thin enough, not happy enough, and certainly not rich enough. All aimed at undermining your contentment and making you feel imperfect and inadequate. They make women feel guilty and depressed because they do not look like the models in the photos — which of course we never will as they have all been computer altered to create perfect bodies. 

The topics covered in many of women's magazines are not Godly in any way — often about making lots of money (as they like to remind us that we don't have enough and need more), sex is very popular, ways to improve our beauty so we too can look like a superstar, endless diet advise that isn't advise at all etc.. 

Our desire to find contentment through worldly pursues will only lead to great sadness. Our hunger for more will never be satisfied and it will take us away from Christ. Only through God can we find contentment and NEVER in this world. This world is trying SO HARD to brain wash us and they are succeeding. To avoid this tsunami, we need to avoid those thing that become temptations—the womens magazines (and in not buying them you will save lots of money), TV advertisements (I no longer watch commercial TV for this reason), letterbox catalogues (toss them straight into the bin) and even avoid the shopping-centres as much as possible if they are a temptation. 

When its time for you to leave this earth, make sure you leave nothing behind. Live each day for God and others and not in the pursuit of "things". 

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. (1 Timothy 6:9)

Other links of interest:
Contentment 24/7, yes we can and yes we must

Finding contentment in suffering