Devoted to Gratitude & Simplicity
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. — 1 Timothy 6:6-8
Finding contentment is one of life’s great struggles. Our hearts consistently strive to find satisfaction and peace. More often than not, we look to the things of the world to bring us fulfillment. We tend to think contentment will be found if we can just accumulate possessions, achieve a certain status, or experience some kind of pleasure. But when we finally reach those things we so desperately wanted to obtain, we are left wanting more. So we do it again—we search for the next thing that might bring satisfaction.
The Avett Brothers, in their song "Ill With Want," describe this cycle we so often find ourselves in with these lyrics:
I am sick with wanting
And it's evil how it's got me
And every day is worse than the one before
The more I have the more I think
I'm almost where I need to be
If only I could get a little more
If you’re anything like me, those last three lines hit a bit harder than we’d like to admit. So what do we do? How do we break free from the trap of trying to “get a little more?” I think the first step is recognizing that our possessions, achievements, and experiences are temporary. As Paul tells Timothy in the verses above, “We brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.” A recognition of the temporal nature of these things should lead us to find contentment elsewhere. Our lack of satisfaction is not because we don’t have enough, but because we’re directing our desires to things that aren’t meant to satisfy. If godliness with contentment is truly of great gain to us, where should we look to find this contentment? Let’s look at what Paul writes next.
“But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” Paul here points out that if we have food and clothing, we should be content with those things. Still, I might find myself thinking, “I have food. I have clothes. Why am I not content?” I think the answer lies not just in recognizing that we have food and clothing, but in looking to the one who provides those things for us. Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, says this: “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 that you need them all.” (Matthew 6:31-32) Jesus here is telling His hearers—and I think us—that our food and clothing are evidence that we are cared for by our Creator, our Heavenly Father. Therefore, when we recognize that we have food and clothing, we can also recognize that we are loved by God. And that’s where we find our contentment. When we turn our eyes to the one who provides us with food, clothing, and every good gift (James 1:17), we will, in turn, find satisfaction for our souls.
When we find contentment in turning our eyes to God, where then should that lead us? What is the proper response to God’s provision for us? I’d like to suggest a devotion to gratitude and simplicity. When we look to the gifts God has given us—from food and clothing to our families and friends, to our possessions and experiences—and most importantly, our salvation through Christ, we can’t help but express gratitude to Him, both for who He is and for what He has done for us. I think when we adopt a heart posture of gratitude, by the Spirit’s help, our desire for more will lessen.
But along with gratitude, we should devote ourselves to simplicity. Often, our possessions, the advertisements all around us, and the desire for more can distract us from finding contentment in our Lord. So, what does living simply look like? I think it can take many shapes and forms, but, as a whole, it involves minimizing distractions and possessions so that, in turn, we can better worship our God and love our neighbors. This might include getting rid of social media, selling or giving away your possessions, and minimizing the noise around you. In the pursuit of simplicity, I’d encourage you to do so purposefully—not just to mark something off your list or to feel a bit more holy. Do it with gratefulness in your heart to the Father, knowing that He alone can satisfy and bring contentment to your soul.
Later on in that same Avett Brothers song, they sing:
Temporary is my time
Ain't nothin' on this world that's mine
Except the will I found to carry on
Free is not your right to choose
It's answering what's asked of you
To give the love you find until it's gone
Friends, our time here on Earth is temporal. Rather than live for ourselves, trying to accumulate more possessions, achievements, and experiences, let’s look to Jesus and His coming kingdom. In Him, we will find contentment for our souls, and we will learn to live lives filled with gratitude and marked by simplicity. In doing so, I think we will learn to live more generously and give the love that’s been given to us.
Finding contentment is one of life’s great struggles. Our hearts consistently strive to find satisfaction and peace. More often than not, we look to the things of the world to bring us fulfillment. We tend to think contentment will be found if we can just accumulate possessions, achieve a certain status, or experience some kind of pleasure. But when we finally reach those things we so desperately wanted to obtain, we are left wanting more. So we do it again—we search for the next thing that might bring satisfaction.
The Avett Brothers, in their song "Ill With Want," describe this cycle we so often find ourselves in with these lyrics:
I am sick with wanting
And it's evil how it's got me
And every day is worse than the one before
The more I have the more I think
I'm almost where I need to be
If only I could get a little more
If you’re anything like me, those last three lines hit a bit harder than we’d like to admit. So what do we do? How do we break free from the trap of trying to “get a little more?” I think the first step is recognizing that our possessions, achievements, and experiences are temporary. As Paul tells Timothy in the verses above, “We brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.” A recognition of the temporal nature of these things should lead us to find contentment elsewhere. Our lack of satisfaction is not because we don’t have enough, but because we’re directing our desires to things that aren’t meant to satisfy. If godliness with contentment is truly of great gain to us, where should we look to find this contentment? Let’s look at what Paul writes next.
“But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” Paul here points out that if we have food and clothing, we should be content with those things. Still, I might find myself thinking, “I have food. I have clothes. Why am I not content?” I think the answer lies not just in recognizing that we have food and clothing, but in looking to the one who provides those things for us. Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, says this: “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 that you need them all.” (Matthew 6:31-32) Jesus here is telling His hearers—and I think us—that our food and clothing are evidence that we are cared for by our Creator, our Heavenly Father. Therefore, when we recognize that we have food and clothing, we can also recognize that we are loved by God. And that’s where we find our contentment. When we turn our eyes to the one who provides us with food, clothing, and every good gift (James 1:17), we will, in turn, find satisfaction for our souls.
When we find contentment in turning our eyes to God, where then should that lead us? What is the proper response to God’s provision for us? I’d like to suggest a devotion to gratitude and simplicity. When we look to the gifts God has given us—from food and clothing to our families and friends, to our possessions and experiences—and most importantly, our salvation through Christ, we can’t help but express gratitude to Him, both for who He is and for what He has done for us. I think when we adopt a heart posture of gratitude, by the Spirit’s help, our desire for more will lessen.
But along with gratitude, we should devote ourselves to simplicity. Often, our possessions, the advertisements all around us, and the desire for more can distract us from finding contentment in our Lord. So, what does living simply look like? I think it can take many shapes and forms, but, as a whole, it involves minimizing distractions and possessions so that, in turn, we can better worship our God and love our neighbors. This might include getting rid of social media, selling or giving away your possessions, and minimizing the noise around you. In the pursuit of simplicity, I’d encourage you to do so purposefully—not just to mark something off your list or to feel a bit more holy. Do it with gratefulness in your heart to the Father, knowing that He alone can satisfy and bring contentment to your soul.
Later on in that same Avett Brothers song, they sing:
Temporary is my time
Ain't nothin' on this world that's mine
Except the will I found to carry on
Free is not your right to choose
It's answering what's asked of you
To give the love you find until it's gone
Friends, our time here on Earth is temporal. Rather than live for ourselves, trying to accumulate more possessions, achievements, and experiences, let’s look to Jesus and His coming kingdom. In Him, we will find contentment for our souls, and we will learn to live lives filled with gratitude and marked by simplicity. In doing so, I think we will learn to live more generously and give the love that’s been given to us.