I was reading in a financial column the other day that one reason we are having trouble pulling out of the recession in our country is that people have, temporarily at least, found contentment. According to this writer many people who have been living on two incomes, and often beyond, thanks to the credit cards. Now they are paying down the credit cards and perhaps living on a reduced income besides. And they have found they are no less happy than when life was all about getting and having, so they are unwilling to go back to the spending that would spur more hiring.
Earthly joys turned out to be an illusion. As believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, we already know this, although a reminder is in order from time to time. But Paul is going beyond this natural wisdom in our text for today. Godliness (a word Paul uses ten times in the letters to Timothy) makes for an even better life than contentment alone. “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
“Godliness” is a living, practiced, Christianity. Although for some it conjures up pictures of people in drab clothes making a show of religion, Paul’s use of “godliness” means a living and vibrant faith that permeates life. It is about Christians living in hope and expectation in every part of life. It is about having meaning to life as we know that the life we live is appreciated by our Lord and Creator. He has called us to live with affection and zeal and energy in all our callings, giving meaning to all of them, for we are part of the new age that Christ brought about in His defeat of death and hell. Because of that, we live in expectation of the fullness of that age when our Lord appears, or calls us to Him.
It goes beyond mere contentment.