There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment. 1 Timothy 6:6

• When Paul speaks of contentment, what does he mean? Hint: look at Philippians 4:11-13
• The idea that someone should be contented is not popular. People who feel poor are encouraged to consider themselves deprived victims. How does Paul suggest a person achieve contentment?
• Paul was assertive about the obligation of Christians to serve people in need, but he never spoke of those people as victims. Does this verse or its context explain why Paul would not have called poor people victims of anything?

we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. ⁹ But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. 1 Timothy 6:7-10

• The word “godliness” is not too popular right now, either. Paul uses the word to speak of the way a faithful person looks to other people. “Godliness” is evident by faithful behavior, but faithful behavior may be fraudulent. What is the message of the “gain” of combining faithful behavior with contentment?
• How would you explain this verse to someone who does not know Christ?