Great Gain

At the two ends of your life there are two doors, and nothing you own goes through either of them with you. Paul puts it plainly: "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."

The word to stay with is contentment. The Greek word behind it was used by the thinkers of Paul's world for a person who needs nothing brought in from outside, someone who has enough within himself. Paul had used a form of the same word about himself: "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Notice the word learned. Contentment came to him over time, and it came by being taught. That is good news if you have been treating your lack of it as a flaw you were born with.

The verse is also answering someone. A few lines earlier Paul describes "men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness." They were treating religion as a way to make money. So Paul takes their own word, gain, and hands it back with the meaning turned around: "godliness with contentment is great gain."

Then he says how little is needed, and it is surprisingly little: "And having food and raiment let us be therewith content." Raiment is clothing. Hebrews builds the same teaching on something God said, rather than on anyone's temperament: "be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

That promise is what contentment stands on. It offers no bigger pile and no end to wanting. It offers a Person. You can carry nothing out through the far door, yet the One who made the promise is already on your side of it. He has said He will not leave you, and He does not leave.

Daily Manna runs on a two-year cycle. The year one reading for day 168 is This Is the Way (Isaiah 30:21).

All 365 readings in Daily Manna, Year Two