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(An Extract from Presidential Charge of Dr. Mrs. Lydia Olukemi Odedeji, Mama Lagos West delivered at 2024 Diocesan Women Conference held at Caroline Adefiola Adebiyi Women Conference Centre, Ipaja, Lagos on Friday August 30, 2024)

TEXT:       1 TIMOTHY 6: 6

 “But godliness with contentment is great gain”

We live in a world that has been plagued by an unquenchable thirst for getting more and more of the things we think we need to be truly satisfied and happy. It may be a thirst for money or the things that money can buy, or even a thirst for position and power. Jesus made it clear that true life does not depend on an abundance of possessions. He did not deny that we have certain basic needs (Matt 6:32; 1 Tim 6:17). He only affirmed that we will not make life richer by acquiring more of these things. Mark Twain once defined "civilization" as "a limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities," and he was right. 

 

The importance of godliness and contentment cannot be overemphasized. Unfortunately, these are scarce commodities in our world today. If there is any time to preach, teach, and promote these virtues, especially among believers, the time is now. It is grossly erroneous to think that more money, better cars, better jobs, e.t.c, will give the desired satisfaction and happiness. One of the dangers of this faulty mindset about earthly possessions is that it systematically drives out the virtues of godliness and contentment from a person s life, and replaces them with ungodliness and greed, thereby opening the room for all sorts of satanic infiltrations and possessions. 

 

In North Africa, the natives have a very easy way to capture monkeys. A gourd with a hole just sufficiently large so that a monkey can thrust his hand into, it is filled with nuts and fastened firmly to a branch of a tree at sunset. During the night a monkey will discover the scent of food and will put his hand into the gourd and grasp a handful of nuts. But the hole is too small for the monkey to withdraw his clenched fist, and he does not have sense enough to let go of his bounty so that he may escape. Thus he pulls and pulls without success, and when morning comes he is quickly and easily taken"This is a perfect strategy the devil is using on many Christians today. In the quest to have more and more they become open to the devil s attack and many have been wounded as a result of this. Whoever will survive this time cannot depend on prayer alone, we have to put on the whole armour of God and be ready to manage himself or herself. One of the ways to navigate this terrible time is the virtue of contentment which Paul defined to be of great gain.

 

Many people today think life is a race where you must be the best at everything. We might want a fancier car, a bigger house, a better-earning job, or more money. The moment we achieve one thing, the race for the next thing starts. Rarely do many individuals spare a minute to just sit back, relax, and be grateful for all they have achieved. Instead of looking back at the distance they have covered, they stretch themselves to cover the distance that remains. And in some cases, this is when ambition becomes greed.

 

Our theme for discussion, therefore, poses a great challenge to this present immoral and decaying world. It challenges our society which is characterized by a “do-more, get more and be more” mentality, especially about money and possession Therefore, the aptness and timeliness of such a topic as this and for a gathering of Christian women cannot be appreciated enough. This year s theme is divine, a divine instruction to how we can strike the balance between righteousness and wealth-building, between aspiration and fulfillment, and between human goals and divine mandate. It is a call to take it easy, a call to be calm, a call to wisdom, a call to shun covetousness and embrace contentment, a call to involve God in our pursuit, a call to differentiate between our needs and wants, a call to live a life of peace that is not depended on our bank account, a call to joy that passes all human understanding, a call to shift of mindset from what is temporal to eternal things that have eternal values. 

 

A good and rewarding understanding of the theme at hand demands, very importantly, a concise knowledge of the First Epistle of Paul to Timothy. No doubt, this will form a part of a solid background for our study

 

The First Epistle of Paul to Timothy

The First Epistle of Paul to Timothy is classified, along with the Second Epistle to Timothy and Paul s Letter to Titus, as Pastoral Epistles. This is because these Epistles address church governance, organization, and personal instructions to church leaders. The majority of Christian Scholars hold the view that 1st Timothy was written by Apostle Paul to Timothy in the mid-60s A. D. This view is based on the Greeting in verses 1 and 2 of the first chapter which says “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our saviour and of Christ our hope. To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” Timothy was a young Pastor in charge of the Church at Ephesus. He had been a help to Paul in the ministry. Though, a Greek, he was not just a co-worker with Paul, but also a Son to Paul in the Lord. 

 

Purpose of the Epistle

Probably, due to Timothy s young age and lack of experience in leadership, Paul felt the need to encourage and guide him in his leadership role as the head of the Church at Ephesus. These guides border on church organization, instructions for worship gathering, qualifications of elders, and specific instructions to Timothy as the Leader of the Church. 

Though there are many issues addressed in this letter, however, a good study of the First Epistle to Timothy would reveal that the larger picture in this Letter in terms of its major theme is that the Gospel of Christ leads to a practical, visible change in believers’ lives. In other words, the true gospel, in contrast to false teaching, must and will always lead to godliness. The focus of this letter is that true Christianity is shown in lifestyles shaped by the gospel of Christ. Those whose lives are not shaped by the gospel have turned away from the faith or they were never in the faith even if they are in the church (1:6, 19-20; 4:1; 5:6, 8, 11-12, 15; 6:9-10). For the sake of emphasis, through this epistle, we understand that apart from the eternal life the Lord offers us, godliness and contentment are another result of our relationship with Christ while still living in this world.  

 

1 Timothy Chapter 6 Verse 6 in Context

From Chapter 1 to Chapter 6:2, Paul gives a series of teachings, warnings, and instructions to Timothy, his son in the Lord. In verse 2 of chapter 6, he instructed Timothy to teach the church the wholesome doctrines he had handed over to him because they would promote a godly life. However, he noted that the possibility that false teachers would contradict his teachings was there. Therefore, against the faulty mentality of the false teachers that godliness or religion must necessarily lead to material or financial gain, Apostle Paul was unequivocal about the fact that the true gain or wealth that is worth our pursuit is Godliness and contentment. In other words, godlikeness or devoutness and reverence to God accompanied by the sense of satisfaction and gratitude for what He has given is the true riches or gain that transcends this life.  

From verse 7 downward, Paul gives various reasons why godliness and contentment are great gains. The reasons are as follows;

 

1. We brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of it. (vs 7)
2. Basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter are enough for our survival. Therefore, believers must be contented. (vs. 8)

• The desire to be rich leads to temptation and other snares of destruction (vs 9). It should be noted that the desire to be better or have financial stability is not bad but when it becomes the major focus of our lives to the detriment of our pursuit of godliness and contentment, there is a great danger.

1. Money is not evil but the love of it. Craving for it can make a believer go astray. (10) 
2. Therefore, instead of pursuing money or earthly riches, righteousness or godliness and other godly virtues should be the focus for believers. In other words, godliness is a means of gain as long as that gain is understood as life and blessing in the presence of God and not only more money or any other material possessions now.

 

Meaning of Godliness, Contentment, and Gain

There are three major words in our theme. These are Godliness, Contentment, and Gain. It is worthwhile to explore these concepts one after the other to get the best of this theme.  

 

Godliness

According to an online dictionary, godliness is the quality or practice of conforming to the laws and wishes of God. It also means devoutness and moral uprightness. Also, the Cambridge Dictionary defines godliness as the quality of being godly i.e. obeying and respecting God. Merriam-Webster Dictionary says “Godliness is the quality of being spiritually pure or virtuous”. Other words for godliness include but are not limited to morality, sanctity, uprightness piousness, etc. 

 

In addition, according to Strong s Concordance, the word godliness is translated from the Geek word ‘eusibeia’ which means “awe, respect for the divine and the social order”. It occurs mostly in 1 Timothy, Titus, and 2 Peter. To be particular, the word is used in the New Testament in the sense of “awesome respect accorded to God, devoutness, piety and godliness”. Thus within the scriptures, godliness refers to reverence or devotion and loyalty to God. (Ps. 12:1; Heb. 12:28). It is living a fruitful obedient Christian life. Furthermore, godliness in the Bible is normally used to describe a positive way of life influenced by God. Furthermore, godliness describes a life based on or influenced by one s devotion to God (2 Tim. 6:12). Thus, godliness is always devotion in action. This devotion is not an activity; it is an attitude towards God. This attitude is composed of three essential elements. They are;

• The fear of God-Humble reverence and obedience
• The love of God- Deep affection towards God 
• The desire of God- A quest to know and have more of God

 

Contentment 

Most dictionaries define contentment as a “state of happiness and satisfaction”. For instance, the Collins Dictionary states that “Contentment is a feeling of quiet happiness and satisfaction”. Cambridge Dictionary defines contentment as “happiness and satisfaction, often because you have achieved everything you need”.  In Mathew 6:25, Jesus says  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more important than clothes?”

 

In essence, Jesus is saying that his followers should be content with what they have. The word “worry” indicates “anxiety”, by this the followers of Jesus are not to be under any undue pressure for any material thing. 

 

Furthermore, the way this word is used in the epistles gives a deeper understanding of the concept. For instance, Paul the Apostle suffered a lot because of the ministry. 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 gives us a glimpse of his travails. He was beaten, persecuted, suffered shipwreck, and many times without food, yet in his Epistle to the Philippians, he says he has learned to be content in whatever situation he found himself in. (Phil. 4:11-13). And in verse 13, the secret of his contentment is made known when he says “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength”. In other words, Paul was thankful, happy, and satisfied with his present condition and at the same time trusting God to do or achieve other things he desired. This is to say that contentment is being satisfied with what we have, who we are, and where we are going.

 

Gain

The word “gain” could be used as a verb or a noun. As a verb, the Cambridge Dictionary defines it as “to get something that is useful, that gives you an advantage, or that is in some way positive, especially over some time”. Another dictionary defines “gain” thus: “to get something desired, especially as a result of one s effort; to improve; make progress”. As a noun, the word “gain” could mean “profit; advantage; an increase; advance or reward of an effort”. It is in the sense of advantage or reward that the word “gain” is used in 1 Timothy 6. 

 

From our text, we have the following lessons. 

1. Wealth does not bring contentment (v. 6). The word contentment means "an inner sufficiency that keeps us at peace despite outward circumstances." Paul used this same word later. "For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" (Phil 4:11). True contentment comes from godliness in the heart, not wealth in the hand. A person who depends on material things for peace and assurance will never be satisfied, for material things have a way of losing their appeal.
2. There is no true godliness without contentment – This is saying – it is not enough to say you know God or serve God; contentment is one factor to determine that. There is no better way to show true godliness without contentment. No wonder Paul said- But godliness with contentment is great gain 1 Timothy 6:6a. Contentment is not just a character, it is a byproduct of a relationship with God. It is never an innate ability or a character one can easily develop. It is a state of heart empowered by the fellowship with the Holy Spirit. It is an inner sense of rest or peace that comes from being right with God and knowing that He is in control of all that happens to us. It means having our focus on the kingdom of God and serving Him, not on the love for money or things. But if God grants us material comforts, we can thankfully enjoy them, knowing that it all comes from His loving hand.
3. Contentment is a mindset- not just a behaviour V6b. … For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it ……it is a mindset based on the understanding that we brought nothing into the world and we shall go with nothing. It is a mindset that rests on the Sufficiency of God as the provider. Solomon, the wisest and richest man who ever lived, said, “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 5:10). It is a call to believers to put on a mindset that put their trust and confidence in God, knowing that He is the Giver of all good things (James 1:17) and that He uses even the hard times to show that our faith is genuine. It is a mindset that affirms that God will never leave nor forsake those who belong to Him. So even in trials, we know assuredly that God will cause all things to work together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
4. The vanity of wealth- it is not lasting (v. 7).  We brought nothing into this world because we can carry nothing out" (Job 1:21). When someone s spirit leaves his body at death, it can take nothing with it because, when that person came into the world at birth, he brought nothing with him Whatever wealth we amass goes to the government, our heirs, and perhaps charity and the church. We always know the answer to the question, "How much did he leave?" Everything
5. Contentment begins with knowing our needs from wants –V8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content 1 Timothy 6:8.Every believer must know that God never promised to meet all our wants but all our needs. There is a clear difference between our needs and our wants. Our needs are the necessities required for survival, essential for physical and mental well-being while our wants refer to things which are good to have but not necessary for survival. Human wants are unlimited and there cannot be an end to them. From our passage, Apostle Paul pointed out that if we have food and clothing, then the major problem is solved and we should find joy even if we  do not have others. Food and "covering" (clothing and shelter) are basic needs; if we lose them, we lose the ability to secure other things. Henry David Thoreau, the naturalist of the 1800s, reminded us that a man is wealthy in proportion to the number of things he can afford to do without.  The economic and energy crises we are presently facing in the world are probably tools used by God to encourage people to simplify their lives. Too many of us know the "price of everything and the value of nothing." We are so glutted with luxuries that we have forgotten how to enjoy our necessities. Contentment is tough because it is a victory over the pursuit of wants. 
6. The desire for wealth leads to sin (vv. 9-10). "They that will be rich," is the accurate translation. It describes a person who has to have more and more material things to be happy and feel successful. But riches are a trap; they lead to bondage, not freedom. Instead of giving satisfaction, riches create additional lusts (desires); and these must be satisfied. Instead of providing help and health, an excess of material things hurts and wounds, The result Paul described very vividly: "Harmful desires. . . plunge men into ruin and destruction" (1 Tim 6:9, NIV). It is the picture of a man drowning! He trusted his wealth and "sailed along," but the storm came and he sank.  It is a dangerous thing to use religion as a cover-up for acquiring wealth. God s labourer is certainly worthy of his hire (1 Tim 5:17-18), but his motive for labouring must not be money. That would make him a "hireling," and not a true shepherd (John 10:11-14). We should not ask, "How much will I get?" but rather "How much can I give?" 
7. The love of money is the root of all evils: not the money but the love for it. And this is true, there is no evil in the world today that is not money-related. If it does not begin with money, it will end with money. Money empowers all things including bad things. 
8. Not wealth but contentment with godliness that brings a great gain: Paul encourages us to know that there is great gain in godliness when it is combined with contentment in the necessities of life (1 Tim. 6:6, 8). God is not against us having money, but it is not money that brings gain, it is contentment with godliness that brings gain to believers. Rather than consider amassing wealth as great gain, Paul states that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” Christ-followers should focus their effort on pursuing holiness in conduct, attitude, and thought. They should choose to be content in whatever circumstances God has given them, just as Paul himself had done while in prison (Philippians 4:11–12). We are told to “flee from all this [eagerness to get rich], and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness” (1 Timothy 6:11). 

Contrary to what many popular health-and-wealth proponents would have us believe, the Bible warns us against pursuing riches (Proverbs 23:4; Matthew 6:19). It is impossible to be content when our hearts are set on gaining more. We will not remain godly for long if we are not content with what God has given us. A desire for godliness is quickly eroded by a greedy, covetous spirit.

 

Why is contentment a great gain?

Contentment prevents you from various forms of temptation: “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction… the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil (v. 9, 10).  If you set your heart on money, you expose yourself to powerful temptations that ruin many people. In the parable of the sower, our Lord speaks about the “seed that is choked by thorns and thistles.” The seed is God s Word. The thorns and thistles are “the worries of this life, and the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things” (Mark 4:19). Money is capable of choking the fruit of God s Word in the lives of people.

 

Contentment brings joy and satisfaction even in the midst of little: Contentment promotes happiness. When you are content with the present, you are letting go of the painful cravings for what you can’t have. As a result, acceptance settles in. Therefore, when you accept your situation, you are allowing yourself to be happy. Being grateful for everything you do have instead of spending most of your time thinking about what you can’t have could make life a lot more beautiful. Money is a great servant but a terrible master. If the heart is set on money, money will break the heart. You will not keep what you gain. That s why godliness with contentment is a great gain. When you have less, learn the art of contentment. This rare jewel is not found when you have more, but when you have less. Contentment builds stronger relationships: When you allow yourself to be contented, you are also telling yourself to accept others as they are. The benefits of contentment are not limited to your well-being; they can also encompass relationships.  Accepting others, including their flaws, and being content with the present may fuel feelings of happiness and prosperity in relationships, making them stronger. It can enrich relationships with trust and appreciation as well as promote healing and growth.

 

Contentment brings simplicity to life: When you can distinguish your wants from your needs, you stop overburdening yourself. You relieve yourself from the stress of wanting more and more. Contentment promotes simplicity. It teaches you to be happy with what you have, whether little or abundant. Instead of wanting your possessions to grow, you start working on personal growth. Because at the end of the day, inner peace fueled by contentment may matter more than the car you drive or even the house you live in. Contentment helps you to know that you cannot inherit the whole world. Trying to have everything is trying to make life miserable.

 

Godliness is the goal of Christ for every believer who is still alive: Godliness is God s number one priority for His children. He desires to have people who are being conformed into the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ (Rom.12:1-2). It gives God joy when more of Christ is seen in our actions, thoughts, and words. Thus, in 1 Peter 1:16, the scriptures say “it is written “You shall be holy, for I am holy” In the same vein, contentment in us shows Christ s likeness. Jesus refused the offer of satan during his temptation. 

 

There is a need for godliness and contentment today because the times are perilous: The evil in this age and time is great because the time is perilous (2 Tim 3:1; Gal 1:4). Therefore, to live a victorious life now requires godliness and contentment. Another word for godliness is righteousness. Hence Proverbs 14:34 says “Righteousness exalt a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people”. In another place, the Bible says “But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon. For they are transplanted to the Lord s own house. They will flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green” (Ps. 92 12-14. NLT). True righteousness will always produce contentment. Thus, a righteous person will be content by default.

 

Godliness and Contentment are the sure signs of our obedience and trust in the Lord:  To be Christ-like is the desire of our heavenly Father. However, the road to Christ s likeness is the way of obedience. Doing what the Lord wants and walking in his steps in the power of the Holy Spirit are disciplines that will engender godliness in us. Therefore, if we are not obedient to the Lord, there is no evidence of godliness. In like manner, it will be difficult to conclude that a person is content if such a person lacks trust in the Lord. Most times, it is a lack of trust that makes many worry unnecessarily and find ungodly ways to help themselves.

 

Godliness and contentment are extremely important to the success of the Great Commission:  Every believer is an evangelist. Everyone must engage in the propagation of the gospel. Souls must be worn for Christ. This is our ultimate duty. Unfortunately, one of the impediments to the growth of Christianity today is the obvious lack of godliness and contentment among many Christians. The words of our mouths are not enough to bring people into the fold of Christ. There is a great need for us Christians to pattern our lives after that of Christ. It is when this happens that our evangelism can have meaningful success today. Let us consider the admonition of Paul to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:16, “Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your salvation and the salvation of those who hear you”. It is evident from the above scripture that godliness is a vital ingredient for reaching the lost as well as our own spiritual life.  Also, contentment is a veritable key to impactful evangelism. However, the practice of Christianity today has lost the virtue of contentment as most of the sermons on the pulpits and prayers are centered on more material blessings. No doubt, a murmuring, discontent, grumbling, and complaining Christian will never have any positive influence on others. People will never believe the life-changing hope of the gospel until they see those who embrace it living and acting in ways contrary to the world. 

 

The Need to make a difference: God has called us out of darkness into the kingdom of light of His dear Son. He also called out to make a difference in this world. The need to make a difference through godly living and contentment today cannot be overemphasized. According to Matthew 5:13-14, it is our responsibility to be the light and salt in the world. As the light, believers are to live godly in this world to please God and show the godly way to others. Also, as salt, believers have the responsibility to influence the world for good. Unfortunately, many believers are not living as true light and salt in the world. If a believer is not making any difference in this world now. Such a person is a liar and does not belong to God.

 

Godliness and Contentment are veritable tools for building a godly future generation:  Whatever the present generation looks like, it is the reflection of the past. And what becomes of the next generation will be the product of this present generation. The moral decadence in our society today is due largely to the ungodly parenting styles prevalent now. Also, the obvious manifestation of greed in society today is a result of a lack of contentment. Our children need to see us live a life that is godly and full of contentment. This is a sure way to train them to live godly and be filled with contentment in the future. Proverbs 22:6 says “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it”. Our children need to have the right moral orientations and spiritual mentoring. This gives them a solid foundation to navigate the future successfully. Imagine how bad society is now, and how is it going to be in the near future. This is just to emphasize the need to live godly and with contentment not only for ourselves but for the future generation.

 

Contentment is not complacency:  There is a question we must answer to balance this charge- the call for contentment by Paul, does Paul mean we should not try to improve our current situation, find a better job, earn more money, or further our education? Are we supposed to passively sit back and watch life go by? To answer this we have to understand the two concepts very well. Being content means that YOU  DO NOT NEED MORE to be happy. Everything that you need to be happy is what you already have. It means that you are not unhappy with your situation (being content) while you also continue to work hard to improve (not becoming complacent). It means that you continue to work to get better (avoiding complacency) while you  do not stop yourself from being happy in the moment (remaining content). The feeling of contentment does not depict having everything you want but being grateful for the things you have presently while striving towards achieving other things. Contentment is a step towards fulfillment. It is being satisfied with taking steps toward the goal today — while understanding that tomorrow will call for more steps toward the goal.  As regards complacency, I love the way Toyin Adetoro puts it- Complacency refers to being satisfied with the current position even when seeing the need for improvement but not making many attempts to improve. Complacency often connotes laziness. A complacent person will often not put their best into any job or task; they put in the minimum effort. Complacency hinders an individual from getting the best of their potential or abilities.  Complacency is characterized by a lack of self-awareness and an absence of the desire for improvement. It often implies a sense of smugness or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one s achievements. Complacency can lead to stagnation because it involves ignoring potential problems, challenges, or growth opportunities. It is often viewed negatively, as it can fail to adapt to changing circumstances or to strive for better outcomes.

 

The connecting line between these two is satisfaction. Both depict a form of satisfaction. One is self –satisfaction with no attempt to improve while the other is satisfaction and continuous improvement to ensure that the satisfaction exceeds beyond the present. The truth is, that continuous self-evaluation is necessary in every aspect of our lives; am I satisfied in this area? Is there something I can do better to improve? Am I making sufficient attempts towards improvement? No one is perfect and there is always something that can be enhanced. Identify what value you can add to any area of your life and start from there.  Complacency is different from being content. Being complacent is similar to being lazy. Often when we get upset with our current situation but refuse to work to improve, we are being complacent. A complacent person never works to reach their potential because they feel that it is pointless. They go through the motions, always blaming external things for their shortcomings.  The difference between contentment and complacency is a subtle one. Being content means being happy. Being complacent means refusing to work to improve.

 

Here are some key differences between contentment and complacency:

1. Growth vs. Stagnation: Contentment does not preclude personal growth or the desire to improve. A contented person can still set goals and pursue achievements without being driven by dissatisfaction or a sense of lack. In contrast, complacency often leads to stagnation because it involves a refusal to acknowledge the need for change or progress.
2. Awareness vs. Ignorance: Contentment involves a conscious appreciation for what one has and an awareness of the present moment. Complacency can entail ignorance or denial of one s circumstances, including potential issues that need to be addressed.
3. Adaptability vs. Inertia: A content person can be adaptable and responsive to change because their sense of well-being is not solely dependent on external conditions. Conversely, a complacent person may resist change because they are overly attached to the status quo, even when it is detrimental.
4. Motivation: Contentment can coexist with a strong motivation to act ethically, contribute to the well-being of others, or engage in meaningful activities. Complacency often lacks this motivation, as the individual does not feel compelled to act beyond their immediate self-satisfaction.

In summary, contentment is a balanced state that allows for happiness in the present while still engaging with life s opportunities and challenges. It reflects a deep-seated peace that is not dependent on external circumstances. Complacency, however, is a self-satisfied state that rejects change and improvement, potentially leading to negative consequences. The key lies in maintaining a sense of contentment that fuels a healthy motivation for personal and communal growth, rather than settling into complacency.

 

When we apply this to our spiritual life-

• Contentment is an attitude of joy and peace of mind that is abiding and growing in Christ Jesus. It s being satisfied with your position and identity in Christ. 
• Complacency is a state of spiritual stagnation, apathy, or contentment that comes with a lack of zeal, urgency, or growth in one s pursuit of a closer relationship with God. It is a condition where individuals become comfortable and satisfied with their current level of knowledge, faith, or spiritual practices without seeking further growth or transformation.

 

Biblical Examples of People with Godliness and Contentment

There are many characters in the Bible who demonstrated godliness and contentment in their lives, and today they serve as examples and motivations to us. These people were unapologetically devoted to the Lord and were content with all that God gave them. For the want of time, we shall look at some selected people from the Old and the New Testaments. 

 

Enoch- The testimony about Enoch is enough to motivate every believer to live for God and him alone. The Bible says “Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him” (Gen. 5:24). The Hebrew word for “walked” conveys an idea of a close relationship with God. In other words, Enoch lived a godly life and was satisfied with his life in God. Remarkably, because of this special relationship, Enoch did not see death.   

 

Hannah- (1 Samuel 1 & 2) Hannah was a godly woman. She was the wife of Elkanah and Samuel s mother. When she was childless, she put her faith in God. Despite being taunted by her co-wife, she exercised the highest level of restraint and depended on God to fight her battle for her. God answered her prayer, and she gave birth to Samuel. Hannah s godly character was also shown when she kept her promise and took Samuel to serve at the Tabernacle when he was still a little boy. Her character portrays godliness and contentment.

 

Daniel- Daniel was an Israelite in the Babylonian captivity. Even in a strange land, he did not abandon the faith and God of his fathers. Rather, he lived according to the law of Yahweh in the land that was full of idols. He was faithful in his duty. He was a man full of faith in his God. He never lobbied for any position. He was godly and contended all the time. God lifted him so greatly in a strange land that he was envied and persecuted, but God fought his battles.

 

Mary Mother of Jesus- She was a young Jewish woman, and she was a virgin at the time she gave birth to Jesus, having conceived God s son miraculously. Mary humbly accepted God s will for her life when the angel appeared to her informing her of divine mandate for her. (Luke 1:26-33). She was a faithful woman who willingly accepted a serious responsibility. 

 

Paul the Apostle- He was an apostle with excellence. He lived an exemplary life which he was bold enough to tell other believers to emulate (1 Cor. 4:16, 11:1). The apostle was godly in his character, and at the end of his ministry, he said “I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:17). The scriptures also attest to his contentment in Philippians 4:11-13. Paul himself said “…for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:11-13).

 

Jesus Christ- Though He was God in the human flesh, he also lived like men in this world to be the greatest example to follow. 1 Peter 2:21 says “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps”. And verse 22 says “He did not sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth”. In his earthly life, Jesus Christ lived godly, and no sin was found in him. He also lived contently such that he was not moved by the things of this world. In his temptation, we see this; when satan wanted to lure him with the riches of this world, he rejected it and affirmed his loyalty to the Father only. Jesus Christ is our ultimate role model in all things. 

 

How can we develop a life of contentment? 

First, it is very important to understand that without the gift of salvation by grace through faith, no man or woman can truly be godly. It is when we are made new creations in Christ, when we become Born-again that the Holy Spirit dwells in us to produce the fruit of the Spirit. (2 Cor.5:7, Gal. 5:22ff).  

 

Secondly, it should be noted that growth in godliness and contentment is largely determined by our progress in self-discipline. There are no two ways to grow in godliness except to train, exercise, or discipline oneself. For this reason, Apostle Paul admonished Paul thus: “Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” (1 Tim. 4:7-8).

 

The following are the five areas we must daily exercise ourselves to develop godliness and contentment:

 

1. Heart discipline: contentment begins from our heart, the way we think, our mentality, and our belief system. When we bring our desires and thoughts down to the level of our possessions, we learn to enjoy what God has given us more than grieving over what He has not given us. Contentment is a virtue that challenges our do-more, get-more, be-more society. This is especially true as it relates to money and possessions. By and large, we are constantly striving to get more money and secure better possessions to enhance our lifestyles.  In our minds, we think that there is always a greener pasture than the one we are in right now. This issue isn’t new to 21st-century earth. Since the beginning of time, mankind has been dealing with issues of contentment. After all, it was Adam and Eve who were not content with what God had given them in the Garden of Eden. They coveted the only thing God said they couldn’t have. Their disobedience of eating the forbidden fruit cost them their perfect world.

However, for us to live a life of contentment, we must be ready to discipline our minds and cautiously choose our thoughts.  A Christian comes to contentment, not so much by way of addition as by way of subtraction… Contentment does not come by adding to what you have, but by subtracting from what you desire. The world says that you will find contentment when your possessions rise to meet the level of your desires… The Christian has another way to contentment, that is, he can bring his desires down to his possessions.

 

2. The word of God-one in the petition of Jesus to the Father was “Sanctify them by thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). It is clear from the above scripture that the word of God can sanctify. Our sanctification is a lifelong process. It involves separation from evil and growth in moral purity in attitudes, thoughts, and actions. Thus, as we continue to believe, think, and live by the word which is the truth, the spiritual cleansing occurs and we become more like Christ. And in 1 Peter 2:2, Peter says “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby”. The word of God is a catalyst for spiritual formation and growth. We must take advantage of it daily through reading, study meditation, and application of it.

 

3. Prayer- Let us know that godliness and contentment is a manifestation of spiritual maturity. Therefore, to grow spiritually and mature in our faith, we must draw near to God. We cannot produce godliness and contentment on our own. We do not have the power in our human nature. Hence, there is a great need to heed the word of God in Hebrews chapter 10:22 which says “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water”. People of God, we need to spend quality time with God daily not only in his word but also in prayer. Through this, He will work on, in, and through us as he moves in our lives and moulds us to his taste thereby making us godly and content.

 

4. Fellowship- Another means of grace is fellowship. Spending time with others who have an interest in growing spiritually can be an encouragement to us in developing godliness and contentment. Through fellowship opportunities like Sunday worship, bible study, prayer meetings, and love feasts in the church, we are likely to develop and grow in godliness and contentment. Proverbs 27:17 says “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend”. In fellowship, believers strive to encourage one another to act in love and abound in good works. This is why the Bible enjoins us not to neglect the fellowship of brethren (Heb.10:25).  

 

5. Personal Christian Disciplines/ Self Control- By personal Christian discipline, we mean habits or lifestyles that must be learned, nurtured, and pursued to help us live godly and with contentment. The habits which must be learned are measures taken to ensure conformity to the accepted standard. The best way to describe this personal Christian discipline is self-discipline/ self-control. Paul says “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified”. We know that an athlete goes through rigorous physical training to achieve victory. Likewise, spiritual personal discipline is needed to develop godliness and contentment. 

 

Self-control helps, most importantly in the area of contentment. 

Our self-control must be evident in the following areas; thoughts (Prov. 4:2), emotions (Eph. 4:26), appetite (1 John 2:15-17), and words (Prov. 4:29, 10:19)

 

1. Mind the Company You Keep- The company we keep will have a significant impact on our lives, for good or for bad. This understanding is extremely important when it comes to living a Christian life that is pleasing to the Lord. The kind of people we associate with will be a deciding factor in the Christian character we develop. To develop godliness and contentment, we need to move or keep friends with godly and contented people. The psalmist says “I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.” (Ps. 119:63). If we are serious about our faith and relationship with God, we must cut away those friends and associates who lure us into sin and drive us towards worldliness. Remember, “Bad company ruins good morals” (1 Cor. 15:33)

 

2. Godliness and contentment cannot be achieved without trusting God. A lack of devotion and reverence for God is a sign that the mind is far from him. Likewise, anxiety because of what to eat, wear and other things is a sure sign of a lack of faith in the ability of God to supply our needs. “Therefore do not be anxious, saying ‘what shall we eat’? or ‘what shall we drink?’ or ‘what shall we wear?’  For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matt. 6:31-34).    Be godly, Godliness is a God-centered life. It grows, not through the pursuit of a process, but through the presence of a person. Jesus Christ is the mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16).  His presence in your life is your hope of becoming the person God calls you to be. Christ in you [is] the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).  Contentment is finding joy in what God has given to you. The opposite of contentment is greed which destroys our capacity to enjoy what God has given.  Contentment is a Christian grace that grows over time. It does not come quickly, easily, or naturally. Paul says “I have learned to be content” (Philippians 4:12). As Christians, we must constantly fill our minds with the Word of God, pray, and ensure spiritual discipline. 

 

3. Live a life of appreciation: it is difficult to find a contented person who is not grateful. And you will never find a greedy man who does not complain or murmur. Therefore, a life of appreciation is a life of contentment. Contentment goes hand in hand with gratitude. Being appreciative of the things in your life, you see everything as a miracle. Beloved, stop complaining, start praising God for what you have now. Only praise can multiply what you have now, not grumbling. One way to be more content and less complacent is actually to find ways to be more grateful for the things you already have in life. When you appreciate what you have, you feel the push to work hard to show your appreciation. 

 

4. Turn your adversity to university: listen to what Paul said- I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to Godliness is a God-centered life. It grows, not through the pursuit of a process, but through the presence of a person. Jesus Christ is the mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16). I have learned the secret of being content” (Philippians 4:12). He is saying: “There were times when I had plenty. But then God brought me to situations where I was ‘in need.’ And through that I learned something: I discovered the secret of being content.”  God used the experience of loss to produce the good fruit of contentment in Paul s life. Every affliction comes with both pain and lesson. We must not just endure the pain, we have to also learn the lesson there. Let us learn from Paul and Silas who found themselves in prison and turned it into a praise concert. 

 

5. Live your life and stop comparing yourself with others. We all have different graces. Even stars in Heaven do not shine equally. While we are all gifted, we do not possess an equal amount of gifts. That is why the best way to kill your glory is to compare yourself with others out of jealousy or envy. You can be inspired by others but not to the detriment of what you also carry as a gift. 

 

Implication of Godliness and Contentment to Today s Woman

The implications of godliness and contentment to women of today are as follows:

1. A life of moral purity and reverence:- The Lord says in Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”  To consider a woman godly and contented, morally, she must lead a blameless life. She must be free from every form of immorality like fornication, adultery, and other perversions which contaminate the soul. She must also maintain physical purity in the sense that she must not be a dirty woman within or outside her home. After all, ‘cleanliness is next to godliness’. A woman who must experience God in a supernatural way must live purely in all her dealings with God, her husband, and others. In addition, godliness and contentment imply that we live a life that honours God. Our actions and words must be influenced by our deep reverence for the Lord.   

 

2. A life of self-control- Another implication of godliness and contentment today is a life of self-control. Self-control is also known as temperance. It is the ability to control oneself. It is also the ability to say “no” to every desire of the flesh. One of the proofs that a woman of God is godly and contented is the ability to control her thoughts, words, and actions. Truly, without the help of the Holy Spirit, this may not be achieved. This is why it is good that a Christian woman fellowships with the Holy Spirit through the word and prayer daily. (Gal. 5:22-23).  For Christian women, self-control is important for purity, integrity, and living morally upright. For instance, a godly woman must refrain from gossip, she must avoid using harsh or impulsive language in her conversations or speech. Managing emotions in times of stress and provocation is emotional self-control. A godly woman will not spend on frivolities nor will she go into unnecessary debt to satisfy her mundane desires. Self-control in diet, and self-control in managing time and resources are essential parts of godliness and contentment for today s woman. 

 

3. A life of Modesty and Humility- The word ‘modesty’ is from the Latin word ‘modesty’ which means ‘keeping within measure’. The life of a woman who is godly and full of contentment will be evident in modesty and humility. Her words, actions, and appearance are within measure. She is not overdoing anything nor going beyond bounds in her words and actions. Often, modesty is greatly connected with appearance. Several places in the Bible admonish women to be modest in their appearance as this is one of the ways to live a practical godly and contented life. In 1 Timothy 2:9-10, Apostle Paul says “And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do” (NLT). Indecent dressing is a big sign of worldliness. Dressing for attention is an indication of an inferiority complex. Also, bleaching your skin is an indication that you are not contented with the colour of the skin God gave you. Remember, our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19-20).  Body parts should be properly covered.  Children should be taught the dignity of dressing for glory and beauty.

 

4. A life of Sincere Faith- Godliness and contentment also means a life of faith in the Lord. To be godly requires obedience to God in all matters, and to obey God, you need to walk in faith like Abraham did in Genesis chapter 12. Hebrews 11:6 says “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.” Holding unto God in both good and bad times is a sign of sincere faith, and it is an aspect of our godly character. Furthermore, to be a contented woman is to be full of faith. As you sincerely receive the gift of God and make the most out of it, the faith in you makes you rely on God for a better tomorrow thereby restraining you from going outside God for help. 

 

5. A life of Thanksgiving- A woman who is to be considered godly and contented today is appreciative of God s blessing. She cares little even if her expectations are yet to be met but she is grateful for the ones she has and trusts God for a better tomorrow. To her husband, she is not over-demanding, but appreciates his effort and continues to pray for the husband to grow in God s grace both physically, financially, and spiritually.

 

6. A Virtuous Life- Godliness and contentment are easily manifested in godly virtues. In other words, good virtues are major signs of godliness and contentment. Thus, a woman who can be considered godly and contented today must manifest all the virtues as mentioned in Proverbs chapter 31 from verse 11. These virtues are Trustworthiness (vs.11), encouragement for the husband (vs.12), diligence (vs. 13-16), strength (vs. 17), Alertness (vs. 18), generosity (vs. 20), braveness (vs. 21), resourcefulness (vs. 14-16, &24), wisdom (vs. 26), good reputation in the family (vs. 28) and the most important, fear of the Lord (vs. 30). If a woman lack these virtues, such is not godly and will lack contentment. 

 

Benefits of Godliness and Contentment. 

Our main text; 1 Tim 6:6 “Godliness with contentment is great gain” is unequivocal enough to tell its readers that there are benefits we stand to enjoy in living godly and contented. Also in the eighth verse of the fourth chapter of the same epistle, the writer makes it known to us that the benefit of godliness transcends this decaying world. Let us examine some of the benefits of godliness and contentment a believer will enjoy. 

 

Unhindered Access to God- Though we cannot see God we communicate with Him in prayers and other aspects of our worship life. However, our accessibility to God can be hampered by ungodly living. “Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift his soul to what is false, and does not swear deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation” (Ps. 24:3-5. ESV). A life in godliness and contentment gains unhindered access to God in prayer and worship.

 

True Peace- A life of godliness and contentment is a sure way to true and lasting peace of mind. One of the age-long deceits of the devil is ‘more money or possession give peace’. This is not true at all; for the Lord says “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15). True peace can only come from God (John 14:27). When we are satisfied and thankful with what God has given, we enjoy peace that passes all human understanding. “ do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus”. (Phil. 3:6-7 NLT). Godliness and contentment surely bring a stress-free life because there is no unnecessary pressure either internally or externally. 

 

All-encompassing Prosperity- Godliness and contentment bring prosperity. God desires that his children prosper in everything; physically and spiritually (3 John 1-3). We have to understand that God s kind of prosperity is not limited to material gains like money, houses, cars, etc. The prosperity God gives encompasses a fruitful Christian life that showcases the glory, wisdom, and power of God, good health, and divine supply of needs. A godly and contented woman will enjoy true and all-encompassing prosperity. The Psalmist makes this known in chapter 1:1-3 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditated day and night. He is like a tree planted by the streams of water that yields its fruits in its season, and its leafs does not wither. IN ALL THAT HE DOES, HE PROSPERS” (The emphasis is ours).  You can also read Deuteronomy 28:1-14.  

 

Divine Protection- Psalm 37:39-40 says “The Lord rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble. The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves them, and they find shelter in him”. God is ever willing to save the godly from all evil. He is always committed to their welfare. Daniel is a good example. He was godly and contented with what the Lord Had done for him. When the enemies rose against him, he was rescued. Know that an ungodly person is like a city without a wall. So also a person without contentment. The fact is that contentment protects you from falling into temptations and many foolish and harmful desires that can plunge into ruins and destruction (1 Tim. 6:6). Many who wanted to become rich at all costs have been duped. Some of them have entered into secret cults which have rubbed them of their peace. Achan in the Book of Joshua chapter 7 brought evil to himself and his family because of greed. How about Gahaz who inherited the leprosy of Namman because of uncontrolled love for material gains?   

 

Divine Leading- “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand” (Psalm 37: 23-24 NLT).  God directs and establishes the steps of those who are godly and contented. He guides them away from errors that can destroy them. Even when they make mistakes, God gives them the grace of quick recovery. 

 

Conclusion 

Life is a race with no specific time frame but we all know we shall not be here forever. This affords us the wisdom to enjoy every moment of our lives. To live every moment with joy, we need the grace of contentment because no one can have everything in the world. Something will be lacking. Therefore, let us put our hearts together in God and rest on Him who is our sufficiency and put our mind to rest.   Godliness describes a God-like life; a life that is influenced by reverence and devotion to the Lord. The center of a life that is godly is God himself. The characteristics of a godly life are; fear of God, love for God, and desire for God. Godliness is not an activity but a lifestyle. It is about our relationship with God which is full of obedience and loyalty to him. True godliness will naturally produce contentment; a satisfied life which is a result of deep trust in God. A contented woman is far from worry or anxiety but is full of gratitude to God. Contentment should not be confused with complacency; complacency is laziness of the highest order, but contentment is about a satisfied and grateful heart with the hope and work for a better future 

 

The need to take seriously the matter of godly living and contented life has become extremely important now, especially, for Christian mothers. One major mark of our union with Christ is a life of godliness and contentment. Moreover, we cannot afford to jeopardize the future of our children with worldliness and greed. To make a difference that will resonate in the life of the coming generation, godly and contented living is a must. Interestingly, we have many examples to follow in the Bible, but ultimately, Jesus Christ is our greatest example. Our union with Christ provides the fertile ground to grow in godliness. However, like Paul, we must learn the secret and daily cultivate, through spiritual exercise of meditation, prayer, and self-control to develop the virtues of godliness and contentment. As we grow in our relationship with Christ, the presence of godliness and contentment in us must be confirmed in our lives by the manifestation of purity, self-control, modesty, humility, and other godly virtues befitting a virtuous woman. Only then can we enjoy all the goodness of God s grace available to the heirs of salvation.

 

CONFERENCE HYMN

1 It pays to serve Jesus, I speak from my heart;

He’ll always be with us if we do our part;

There s naught in this wide world can pleasure afford,

There s peace and contentment in serving the Lord.

Refrain:

I love Him far better than in days of yore,

I’ll serve Him more truly than ever before;

I’ll do as He bids me, whatever the cost,

I’ll be a true soldier — I’ll die at my post.

 

2 And oft when I’m tempted to turn from the track,

I think of my Savior — my mind wanders back

To the place where they nailed Him on Calvary s tree—

I hear a voice saying, I suffered for thee. [Refrain]

 

3 There s a place that remembrance still brings back to me,

’Twas there I found pardon — ’twas Heaven to me;

There Jesus spoke sweetly to my weary soul,

My sins were forgiven, He made my heart whole. [Refrain]

 

4 How rich is the blessing the world cannot give,

I’m satisfied fully for Jesus to live;

Tho’ friends may forsake me, and trials arise,

I’m trusting in Jesus, His love never dies. [Refrain]

 

Thank you for listening. God bless you all.

 

Dr. Mrs. Lydia Odedeji

President, Women Organization

Diocese of Lagos West