Depending on how you pronounce “content,” you are either talking about a state of peaceful happiness or satisfaction or you’re talking about things, material, or information. For example, “I am content with the amount of content on Netflix.” We can get too focused on the amount of content in our lives that it prevents us from being content. As we move into this Christmas shopping season, kicking off with Black Friday, let’s aim to be less concerned with the amount of content in our lives so that we can be more content in our lives.

“Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.” (1 Timothy 6:6-8)

Paul taught Timothy that true godliness with contentment is great wealth. Paul said this in the context of warning Timothy about people who would show godliness only to attain wealth, people who would teach a different gospel just so they could gain money. Today we call this the “prosperity gospel” or “Prosperity theology” and, unfortunately, there are a lot of well-known people who preach this way. It’s a bit surprising to see that this false teaching goes all the way back to the church’s beginnings. Paul accurately points out that we brought nothing into this world and we will take nothing with us when we leave it—so do not store up treasures on earth, which is something Jesus taught a few years earlier. 

“‘Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.’” (Matthew 6:19-21)

With online shopping and the convenience of home delivery, we are spending more and more money from the comfort of our homes, which can quickly lead to storing up treasures here on earth. Jesus warned against this behavior because we can make treasures out of trinkets by giving more significance to stuff that we accumulate, the stuff that, as Paul pointed out, we can’t take with us. We focus on the content of our houses and we become less content.

“But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:9-10)

“Then He (Jesus) said, ‘Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.’” (Luke 12:15)

As this holiday season begins to ramp up, remember to keep your treasure in Heaven. Treasure your relationship with God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Treasure the knowledge and wisdom the Spirit gives, and as you continue shopping, remember that life is not measured by how much you own. If we focus on the appropriate content—Jesus in our lives—then we will truly be content.

To the glory of the Lord God, whose I am, and whom I serve.