Content with Food and Clothing 1 Timothy 6:8

As Paul the apostle continued to instruct Timothy his “son in the faith” concerning those who would “consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;”, he told him “godliness with contentment is great gain” because “we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” In chapter six and verse eight of his letter to Timothy, Paul tell Timothy to be “content” with “food” and clothing where we read:

And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

The verse begins, “And having food and raiment...” Paul continued his discourse on contentedness with the word “And”, while adding, “having food” or “holding, possessing and owning sustenance” “and raiment” which means “coverings, garments or clothing”. Paul desired for Timothy to break the idea of contentedness down to the simple necessities for the continuance of life which are “food” and “clothing”.

The verse continues, “...let us be therewith content.” Paul continued with the Greek phrase, “arkeō toutois arkeō” which means “let us be” or “be possessed of unfailing strength, strong enough, sufficed with, defended with, warding off and satisfied with” “therewith content” “with these things”. In other words, Paul encouraged Timothy to be satisfied with the possession and ownership of “food and clothing”.

While we think upon Paul's words, most of us who read them know we have a closet full of clothes, and we have refrigerators and pantries filled with food. However, this is not the case everywhere. Some people wonder from where their next meal will come, and others would simply like a coat, shirt or socks to keep them warm. So often there are other material possessions which preoccupy our minds and desires, and we easily forget what the essentials are for living. As we ponder Paul's idea, let us examine ourselves and discover our level of contentment. Are we content with “food and raiment” or have other things brought us to a state of discontentedness? Jesus said in the gospel of Matthew in chapter six and verse twenty-five:

Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Jesus' further stated in verse thirty-three:

But seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

May we evermore heed the words of our Savior Jesus, and learn to be content.

Next time Paul shares what often happens with people who are rich, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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