But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 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. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. (1 Timothy 6:6-10)

False teachers think that “godliness is a means to financial gain.” Perhaps not all false teachers think this way, but there are some who do. Although Paul may have specific individuals in mind, the statement lends itself to broader applications. Some false teachers operate within Christian congregations. Then, there are others who address a wider audience, but who attempt to infiltrate congregations with their ideas. They teach various philosophies, speculations, and approaches to life that divert people from the plain gospel of Jesus Christ. They appeal to the lusts, hopes, and the desperation of men, inspiring them for all the wrong reasons, and motivating them with false and deceptive foundations. Those who are not grounded in a sound understanding of biblical doctrines are taken captive in their thinking by fanciful fables and theories, and once the false teachers have captured their minds, they have captured their wallets as well.

Spirituality is a huge industry. There is only one truth, but many alternatives to it, and this industry embraces them all. For the more intellectual type, or for those who would like to think of themselves this way, there are heresies that are complex and technical. For the mystical type, there are New Age and occult teachings. For those who wish to better themselves apart from repentance, faith, and the power of God through Jesus Christ, there are thousands of inspirational gurus to choose from. They are bound to make even the lowest loser feel like a winner. For the health-conscious, and for those who wish to attain peace without truth, and tranquility without redemption, there are various kinds of meditation, yoga, and hypnosis. For the scientific-minded, or even for those who enjoy pseudo-science, as if there is a difference, there are materials produced by psychologists, physicists, and other researchers. People will pay for what they want. They will pay for explanations, for stories, for solutions. And there will always be teachers to give them what they want for a price.

Paul writes, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” We must correct two misinterpretations. First, it does not say that money itself is a root of all kinds of evil, but that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. This means that both the rich and the poor can be guilty of this. No one should judge himself safe from this pitfall by the amount of wealth he possesses. In fact, there is no necessary relationship between the two. If you love money – either to gain more, or to keep what you have – Paul is talking about you. Second, it does not say that the love of money is the root of every instance of evil, but that it is one root of all kinds of evil. In other words, the love of money has produced evil of all kinds, but it is not the cause or motive for every instance of evil, and the statement leaves room for other causes and motives for evil.

A person who loves money is weak and vulnerable. The world has something he wants, and he is more likely to compromise truth and conscience to get it. He is susceptible to temptation, since there is something in his soul that the devil can appeal to in order to manipulate him. The love of money can lead to total disaster: “Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” A person who loves money is foolish. As Jesus said, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” And most likely, he will not gain the whole world, not even a little of it, and still lose his soul.

Contentment grants a person immunity to temptation. Paul writes, “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.” A person who is content, by definition, cannot be ensnared by these “foolish and harmful desires.” But the power of contentment is much broader, for the reason that temptation appeals to some need or desire, and thus dissatisfaction within the person. Did not Eve fall from righteousness for this reason? Satan did not offer her money, but he stirred up discontent in her, and then he seized upon it and suggested a solution that plunged her into “ruin and destruction.” Never underestimate the power of contentment, or the danger of its opposite.

The word for “contentment” comes from a Stoic term that refers to self-sufficiency. If I am self-sufficient, I cannot be bribed and bullied. You have nothing that I want. There is no desire in me that you can use to entice or to control me. I am untouchable. Thus contentment is not a weakness, but an inward strength that enables a person to possess himself and to exercise self-control. It is an inward quality that grants a person independence, and liberates him from the pressure of external circumstances.

Nevertheless, regardless of what Stoic philosophy means by the term, it takes on a Christian meaning in Paul’s usage. Elsewhere he calls contentment a “secret” to the Christian life. He writes, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:11-12). There is the element of self-sufficiency, of independence from circumstances. It does not mean that he never has anything, since he says, “I know what it is to have plenty.” But it means that contentment is unaffected by circumstances. He is content when he has plenty. He is content when he is in need.

Then, Paul tells us the reason, or the basis, for his contentment: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (v. 12-13). This adds another dimension to our understanding of contentment.

We learn that this “secret” is not some hidden password or incantation, or some technique that, if faithfully practiced, would lift a person to some mystical heights, above all his cares and problems. Rather, this secret of power for service and immunity to temptation stems from the essence of the gospel – confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ. This means that all Christians have the potential to attain it. The resources of Christ is open to everyone who believes. And it also means that it eludes all non-Christians. Although it is declared in the open, it is closed to unbelievers. The Bible says that they are without God and without hope. Non-Christian contentment is a counterfeit, a make-believe, and a warping of the human personality. True contentment is found only in Christ, and as long as non-Christians reject the gospel, it will remain out of their reach. It is something that they are unable to attain even if the “secret” is plainly explained to them.

Moreover, we learn that the self-sufficiency associated with contentment is relative. It is not an absolute and supreme self-sufficiency. Only God is self-sufficient in this sense. But it is an independence from circumstances, and from other creatures and objects. Certainly, it does not refer to an independence from God. In fact, it means the opposite – the basis of Christian contentment, the quality that makes a person unaffected by circumstances, is a complete dependence on God, and in the resources that he has made available to us through Jesus Christ.

This brings us to the most important lesson on contentment. That is, contentment is not mainly negative, but there is a strong positive focus. It is not achieved by a mere denial of desires, which leaves one empty. Rather, it entails a deliberate focus on the immeasurable treasures that we already possess in Christ. It is not produced by an exercise of willpower, but it is a natural outcome of knowledge. And instead of indifference, it is characterized by an obsession with true riches. Contentment, therefore, is not a satisfaction with defeat and lack, but an affirmation of our victory and abundance in Jesus Christ.