But godliness with contentment is great gain.

1 Timothy 6:6 (CSB)

Karen, why don’t you believe your costly value is from God, and not from performance or the approval of others? I’m not content with my significance and worth. Recently, I rifled through shelves and boxes for the book that addressed these issues and most impacted my beliefs. Not to be found. How ironic! I wanted to refer to it to help me write this devotional rather than depend on God! Ouch.

Discontentment for me means that I want to be more. I see deficiencies. I obsess about improving things, I strive. I compare. Self-focus. Obsessed to fix either things or people. I forget that through Jesus I am enough. All God has provided is enough, and Jesus is better than anything else.

God’s call to contentment requires my faith. Active faith in living hope. Then—freedom from strife and anxiety dwells within. When I am content in my circumstances, in my things, and in my perfect purpose in Christ, Jesus is crowned as Lord. He is worthy.

Contentment means satisfaction and sufficiency. Contentment leads me to see the Giver. Thankfulness arises to the Giver, and I become more of a giver than a getter. My next thing is to admit my lack of trust in God and to rest in his sufficiency. It’s hard to admit my lack of contentment with my purpose in life, but it’s an honest start.

Forgive me, Father, for wanting more from you for my life. I want to be fully satisfied in you and your Word, not in searching a new book to find “the” answer. Grant me another day to become more like your Son, Jesus.

Stanza three from “Doe ye Nexte Thynge”* follows:

Oh, He would have thee, daily more free,

Knowing the might of thy royal degree;

Ever in waiting, glad for His call,

Tranquil in chastening, trusting through all.

Comings and goings no turmoil need bring:

His all thy future: DO THE NEXT THING.

Karen Sims

*Steele Elliott, Emily Elizabeth. Stillness and Service. London: Seeley, Jackson & Halliday, circa 1875.