I would say that most Christians experience either contentment or godliness. There’s also a significant number that experience neither. Our goal, and one that it appears very few meet, is to be both godly AND content.
Think about your own life. First of all, are you content? Are you satisfied with your job, salary, family, friends, government, home, or car? How about non-material things like your attitude, responsibilities, expectations, daily walk with God, prayer life, service, witnessing/soul winning?
Those last few also speak to godliness. Are you living Biblically? Are you Christ-like? How often would you say you are? 50% of the time? 30%? 10%?
If we are honest, truly honest about who we are and who we SHOULD be to meet the standard of godliness that the Lord desires from us, to do so would make us a unicorn in our society.
I truly struggle daily to meet either standard. I have to aggressively fight against covetousness and wanting more for my family. I want a nicer home, job stability, steady income and all the rest. I want to be a better man, husband, father, and Christian.
Even the desire to be more godly means I am not content, though I suppose if I was more godly, I would be more content – which is what this verse surely implies.
Godliness WITH contentment is great gain.
It’s a standard for which we all should strive. Put the emphasis on godliness over contentment, and we can achieve both.
This verse convicted me today.
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