Day 10

Seek Contentment in God

from the 1 & 2 Timothy reading plan


1 Timothy 6:3-10, Ecclesiastes 5:10, Luke 12:13-34

BY Patti Sauls

It looked like Buddy was running for his life. Alone in his cage, our stout, honey-colored hamster raced on his wheel as fast as his stubby legs would take him. Poor guy! That flimsy wheel shook as Buddy wore himself out, running nowhere fast.

In today’s reading, Paul urged pastor Timothy to confront the false teachings that tempted his young church to run nowhere fast. Paul warned him specifically about those who “imagine that godliness is a way to material gain” (1Timothy 6:5). Timothy must reject the lie that promised financial blessing in exchange for faithfulness. Pursuing godliness—centering our lives on Jesus’s words and ways—should not be used to gain wealth. The Christian life is not about manipulating God for a stronger financial portfolio. 

Here’s what this lie still offers us today: a hamster wheel. It tells us to hop on and run for our lives. On the wheel, we’re motivated by greed and powered by desperation. We compare and we judge. We envy and we covet. We don’t just want what others have; we want more. If we attempt to be obedient, we harbor resentment and expect payback. We may not consciously say it, but in our hearts we insist, “I work hard and play by the rules. I go to church. Heck, I even tithe. God owes me.” 

But here’s the truth: God cannot be bought. Even if we do experience financial success, it will never be enough. “The one who loves silver is never satisfied with silver, and whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with income. This too is futile” (Ecclesiastes 5:10). Money never delivers the deep contentment we crave. We keep running, always on the chase for more, yet never truly satisfied.

Why do our hearts wrestle with money? Having money in the bank is not the problem. But letting money have its way in my heart is. Loving and worshiping our accumulation of stuff, status, and security reveals our desire to seize control, assert independence, and reject God’s supremacy by declaring our own. Back on the hamster wheel we go, striving to be god of a flimsy kingdom of our own making.

True gain is found when we reject these lies. Contentment grows as we humbly center our lives on Jesus Christ because He has already secured our eternal identity and status. He is enough. We can be motivated by gratitude instead of greed, powered by delight instead of desperation. Resisting that shaky wheel is so much easier said than done. Our pride and insecurity tell us to run for our lives, to accumulate all we can. Can we admit that we’ll be tempted to hop back on again? We will. And, when we do, let’s lovingly remind each other that we can jump right off because Christ always catches us. To rest in Him, friends, is our greatest gain (1Timothy 6:6).

Post Comments (57)

57 thoughts on "Seek Contentment in God"

  1. hissparrow says:

    Praying much for Kimberly and Jessica.

  2. Tricia Cavanaugh says:

    Praying for everyone’s requests. It is so easy to lose sight of what is most important, and look to material things. I pray that I would remember that God has all the details. I just need to give it all to him.

  3. Karen J says:

    Kimberly and Jessica, praying for you.

  4. Jo says:

    KIMBERLY ZEIHL Praying for you and your father right now, that God will equip the doctors with skill and wisdom, and that He would protect your father and all those involved from all shock and trauma from the accident.
    Lamentations 3:21-23. “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”

  5. Arina says:

    Kimberley Ziehl – Praying for your dad, you and your family. May God bring healing and guide the hands of the doctors
    Jessica Timperio – Praying for you and your marriage. May God give you wisdom.
    Lehua K – thanking God your husband’s bites are gone, praying for your health
    Mari V – lifting up your financial situation to the God who provides
    Kaitlyn Patrick – praying for your friend

    Molly Rohrer – I’ve been raising funds for Compassion in Tanzania. Next week we will go there to visit projects and to run a half marathon. So indeed quite the adventure

  6. Kimberly Ziehl says:

    When I first started this reading I never would have imagined what I would be going through now. My dad was in a horrific accident last night causing him to lose most of the bottom half of his face. I beg you all for prayers. I have seen you over the last few months rally around one another. I am so thankful he is stable but this will change our lives forever. I pray the doctors have healing hands.

    1. Sarah Paxton says:

      Praying!!

    2. Erica Chiarelli says:

      Praying ❤❤

  7. Jessica Timperio says:

    My husband is not religious and is constantly comparing our finances and what we’ve done with others. He risks our marriage for work. He constantly chases the money and has been watching a show “Gold Rush” for months now. He wants to go one day to try to find gold on his own. He was offered a promotion at work, and today he is testing it out to see if he likes it. The issue is, it’s so far away and I cannot trust him going there. He had an issue a while ago when he first got hired, (I was working there, and I got him the job in the first place) where he was speaking with another woman, but completely ignoring me day in and day our. He promised he’d change but I just can’t trust it. He promised he would look for another job but he recently told me that it was a lie and he isn’t going to. Now, he’s definitely not leaving. He even got his sister and her bf a job there too. He has always put work over my health. I’m not sure how much longer I can try to make it work. I’m definitely needing some prayers for guidance on what to do. I feel so stuck.

    1. Erica Chiarelli says:

      Praying ❤️ ❤️

  8. Long Island Lynn says:

    Godliness WITH contentment is GREAT GAIN….
    need to meditate on that!

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