1 Timothy 6:6-7

‘But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, for neither can we carry anything out,’

In total contrast is true doctrine and true Christianity. That, while not condemning riches, eschews seeking to become rich (compare Matthew 6:19-21), and at the same time recognises that such riches may well keep men from God. It produces genuine heavenly-mindedness (Colossians 3:1-3; 1 John 3:1-3) which cares nothing for the treasures of this life but centres on pleasing God, and doing the will of their Father in Heaven. It stresses the fulfilment of their responsibility towards God (eusebeia - godliness). Pleasing God and having His contentment in their hearts is all that they desire. For they know that earthly things are nothing, and that they brought nothing into this world and can take nothing out. Compare Job 1:21 - ‘naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked will I return there’; Ecclesiastes 5:15 - ‘as he (a rich man) came forth from his mother’s womb, naked will he go again as he came, and will take nothing for his labour which he may carry away in his hand’. Thus they look not at the things that are seen but at the things which are unseen, for the things that are seen are temporary and transient, but the things that are not seen are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18). They have respect to the recompense of the reward (Hebrews 11:26) when they will hear their Lord say, ‘well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord’.

It may well be that the false teachers had offered ‘contentment’, or self-assurance. The word was used similarly by Stoic philosophers. But Paul wants to stress that if it does not go along with fulfilling our responsibilities towards God it is worth nothing. The only genuine contentment, which includes a full supply of all that is necessary, is found in Him, for that is contentment that rests on a sound basis. The same root is found in Deuteronomy 32:10 LXX, ‘He maintained him in the wilderness, in burning thirst and a dry land. He led him about and instructed him, and kept him as the apple of an eye, as an eagle would watch over his brood, and yearns over his young, and receives them, having spread his wings, and takes them up on his back.’ That is the basis of the Christian’s contentment.