It Grieves God
Godly Contentment – Part 1

Scripture Reading:  Philippians 4:11-13

Key Verse: 1 Timothy 6:6

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

I believe it grieves God when we treat ourselves with all the food we need, yet allow others to go hungry.  Isaiah, God’s prophet in the Old Testament, proclaimed: “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights…” (Isaiah 10:2).  And, as we saw earlier this month, Isaiah reminded us that if we want God’s glory to surround us, we must share our food with the hungry (Isaiah 58:7-8).

Hunger is never a game in God’s opinion; He grieves over the injustice of our world that allows people to go hungry.  He grieves when His children—redeemed by the blood of His Son Jesus—cannot be content with what they have in order to share with the poor.  This is why the Apostle Paul was inspired by God to write: godliness with contentment is great gain!

That is a powerful term in our society: “great gain.”  Unfortunately, it catches most people’s attention when it’s used in the context of great gain in money…for us!  In God’s economy, we have great gain when we say, “I have enough—I am going to share with the poor.”  When God hears that from us, we are given “great gain” in spiritual realms.  Jesus described a great storehouse in heaven where we can store up for ourselves great treasures.  These treasures will last into eternity and will continue to bless our lives!

Father, I don’t want to grieve you.  I do have enough; please help me open my eyes to the needs you want me to focus on in others.  In Jesus’ name, amen.