Contentment and Godliness

I was encouraged as a young man to never shop for myself this time of year. Not only was it possible someone ‘might’ give me what I was buying, it also encouraged me to be content with what I already have. Being content and not shopping for myself is not easy during the holidays.

In today’s reading from Saint Paul, there is much to hear about contentment. We are expected to be content with food and clothing. We are expected to be content with serving others. We are warned about not being content with wealth. It all leads to godliness.

Timothy, my son, do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor participate in another man’s sins; keep yourself pure. No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. The sins of some men are conspicuous, pointing to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. So also good deeds are conspicuous; and even when they are not, they cannot remain hidden. Let all who are under the yoke of slavery regard their masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be defamed. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brethren; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these duties. If any one teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching which accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit, he knows nothing; he has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, base suspicions, and wrangling among men who are depraved in mind and bereft of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. There is great gain in godliness with contentment; 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 shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs. But as for you, man of God, shun all this.

1^st Timothy 5:22-25; 6:1-11

The holiday season is a huge temptation to ‘keep up’ with Jones’s. Around every turn it seems someone else has more than we have. THEIR decorations are over the top while our house is dark without twinkling lights. Piles of wrapped gifts under THEIR tree. Cars, toys, fancy clothes.

What we don’t know is the stress that comes along with ‘all the stuff’ people try to accumulate. That’s why Saint Paul wants us to be content. Chasing ‘stuff’ or even power and prestige, leads us away from contentment and godliness.

There is a better way, and we can STILL celebrate Christmas. We can STILL give gifts. It begins with sitting back in prayer and thanking God for what we already have. No matter how much we think we need, until we are thankful for what we have, more will never satisfy us.

Being thankful is not the same thing as saying ‘thank you’ to God. Being thankful is a condition of your heart that requires a sense of peace and contentment. Merely saying ‘thank you’ doesn’t go beyond our lips. Being thankful means, you aren’t chasing for more.

It is a gift from the Church that we are asked to fast before Christmas. It is unfortunate that so many people don’t embrace that part of our ‘preparation’ for Christmas. We get so hung up on holiday parties and shopping that we forget to be content. We forget God in the whole season.