“If I only had more ______!” You can fill in the blank, more money, more time, more talent, more beauty, more smarts etc. Have you ever found yourself whispering those words under your breath?

When the Apostle Paul, who certainly understood the depravity of his own heart, wanted to teach and encourage young Timothy about the importance of modeling contentment he wrote these words in a letter to him “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” (I Tim 6:7-8)

I have always found it fascinating that the wisdom Paul offers and the key to true contentment comes when we understand what Job said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.'” (Job 1:21) And also King Solomon, arguably one of the wealthiest men who ever lived wrote, “As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand.” (Eccl 5:15) This lesson from scripture is very simple and very clear, hold on tight to this truth; we had a possession less entrance and we will have a possession less exit! When the late John Davison Rockefeller, American businessman tycoon who founded Standard Oil Company, becoming the world’s first billionaire also considered one of the wealthiest people in history, died on May 23, 1937, he was 97 yrs old. One of his aides was asked how much he left behind. The man wisely answered, “He left it ALL behind!”

I think it’s important to always keep this truth before us. If we know we cannot take it with us there is great wisdom in the perspective Paul offers is “But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” When preaching the Sermon on the Mount Jesus also gives clear instruction on the path to and value of true contentment that leads to trusting in God who promises to supply our needs. “Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matt 6:25-34)

If we are to be “content” which literally means pleased with, fully satisfied and completely settled with simply “food and clothing,” why then does there seem to be no end in wanting more? This is where “godly” contentment comes in. The admonition Paul is giving Timothy is the same instruction the Spirit of God, through the Word of God, wants to give us. The gain we are to be seeking is not financial, physical, or tangible in any way, rather it is spiritual gain. One will only, ever, be content when they fully and completely seek God (Ie “godliness”) in His person, purpose, character and nature so they can live to reflect His image for His glory! This is what Jesus taught “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt 6:33) What joy there is knowing that God not only promises to take care of us in this life, but in the life to come when we place our faith in Jesus who died on the cross and rose from the dead so that we can live, forever content, in His goodness and grace.

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Finding Faith is written by area pastors. This week’s column comes from Rev. Tim Boger, senior pastor of Big Woods Bible Church in Lock Haven.