Note 10 at 1 Tim. 6:6: Paul shows us what true wealth really is. True wealth is found in godliness and contentment. It's not possessions, new cars, homes, etc. True wealth consist of godliness that produces a contented heart. Richness of soul and spirit by itself is gain.

People are often looking for something to fill their empty lives. They think they would be happy if they won the lottery. This passage teaches us that things will not make us happy. Godliness which is being like God in action and thought, plus contentment, is the recipe for happiness.

Jesus said life does not consist in the abundance of things that we possess (Lk.12:15). Paul now proves this point by giving us the examples of one's birth and death. What does a man have when he is born? Nothing! What does he take with him when he dies? Nothing! Therefore, if we didn't come into this world with material things, and we won't leave with them, then it must not be material things that give us happiness. They aren't lasting. They won't survive this life. It is coming into a relationship with the true God through Jesus Christ, that gives real contentment and rejoices our hearts.

Note 11 at 1 Tim. 6:6: Notice that Paul didn't say that godliness alone was great gain. It is true that godliness would be great gain even if one wasn't content, but it's hard to imagine true godliness without contentment. One can imagine religious devotion and adherence to rules without contentment, but true "God-likeness" is impossible without contentment, because God Himself is content.

Religion has long perverted this truth. It has traditionally taught that to be like God meant having no fun. Entire orders of "Christians" have been founded on the belief that to be truly godly, they had to deny themselves of all pleasure. That's not what God's Word teaches. Jesus had more joy than anyone alive in His day (Heb. 1:9). Jesus rejoiced in His spirit (Lk. 10:21) and He commanded us to rejoice and leap for joy (Lk. 6:23). Peter said if we were in faith we would have joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Pet. 1:8). Joy and contentment are godly. The sorrow of this world (2 Cor. 7:10) is ungodly.

Note 12 at 1 Tim. 6:6: The word "contentment" describes the condition of being satisfied (NAHD). Things cannot satisfy. Satisfaction can only come when the needs of the heart are met. That can take place regardless of what is happening to us in the physical realm. Remember that in context, Paul is speaking of slavery and says that slaves don't have to have freedom to be content.

Paul was a classic study in contentment. He said in Philippians 4:11, ". . . for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." He had to learn that. It didn't come naturally (see note 4 at Phil. 4:11, p. 1178). Paul's contentment worked in whatever situation he found himself in at the time (see note 5 at Phil. 4:11, p. 1178). When Paul wrote the book of Philippians he was in prison, and yet there is more mention of joy and rejoicing in that letter than in any letter he had written (see INTRODUCTION TO PHILIPPIANS, p. 1148).