Godliness with Contentment

Paul declared that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” With him this was not a statement of theory but of fact. He said, “I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” He had learned that satisfaction and contentment are not to be found in material things, conditions, or surroundings, neither could they deprive him of the sense of peace and harmony he had found in the realization of God’s presence and power.

How unlike the experience of Paul is that of most men. Mortals are rushing hither and thither to find some thing that will satisfy, some place where they will be contented. Abiding satisfaction they know not from experience. Most people can tell what would satisfy them if they could only attain it. But when the one who has already acquired that which others think would satisfy them, is asked if he is contented with his lot, he answers in the negative; but perhaps he, too, can tell what would bring lasting harmony and joys without end.

Thus it is that satisfaction, form a mortal and material point of view, is a veritable will-o’-the-wisp, it may be in sight, but never found when the place is reached where it was supposed to be. It is always just a little farther on. There is a good and sufficient reason for this. Material things cannot satisfy and the material senses cannot be satisfied. It is universally admitted that material things are mortal and doomed to death and decay. If they seem to satisfy to-day they will not do so to-morrow. The very fact that material things do not satisfy, is evidence of the existence of something beyond matter. In this something that is above and beyond matter, humanity must find satisfaction if it is to be found at all.

The Psalmist declared, “I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.” Christians believe that joy and satisfaction await them in the future beyond the grave. It is thought by many that only after death will man awake in the likeness of God and realize the joys of that awakening. It is argued that man must “fall asleep” before he can awake; but Science teaches that the testimony of the material senses constitute the dream from which the Psalmist realized he must awaken before he could know the likeness of the Infinite.

The Scriptures declare that “now is the day of salvation.” Now is the time to be saved form evil; now is the time to find peace and joy and satisfaction. That which can satisfy exists to-day as much as it ever will, and that which can be satisfied constitutes man’s true being. Why, then, do not mortals know from experience what it is to be satisfied? Simply because they are not looking in the right direction. They are looking to something that cannot satisfy, to still the longings of that which cannot be satisfied. Nothing but the real can satisfy, but even the Truth cannot satisfy a false sense. Because the material sense of life and its joys is a false sense, it can never know the Truth of Being, and so long as mortals seek harmony through the material senses they must expect to meet with disappointment.

To many the mission of Christianity is to save from suffering, — more especially in the future. There is a type of mortal mentality which questions whether a healthy, happy man can be a Christian. It is too often thought that Christianity is for the helpless invalid or the one bowed down with fear, care, and anxiety. While it does come to the sick and heavy laden, bringing joy and harmony to the human heart, yet its highest mission is to prevent suffering by taking away that which makes suffering possible. It brings the eternal realities of Life and thus it takes away that which seemeth to be, but in reality is not.

Christianity saves man from the false sense of existence, the sense that is not and cannot be satisfied. So long as the mortal and material consciousness constitutes man’s identity, he can expect little else than disappointment, discord, and dismay. All that he can cognize through the material senses is mortal, and he cannot hope to find satisfaction in them. It is only when man is born again, when he begins to recognize himself as a spiritual being, one whose origin is in Spirit, not in matter, that he gains the idea or conception of life that is real and harmonious.

Spirit is real and spiritual consciousness, or the consciousness of Spirit, is also real and eternal. This is man’s true identity. To the human sense it may seem that if the things of Spirit constitute the sole reality of existence there is but little to live for. But this is because mortal man is more conscious of matter than he is of Spirit.

Having learned from bitter experience that material things do not satisfy, man is at length compelled to turn to Spirit, the source of all good. As he begins to seek happiness through spiritual consciousness he is surprised to find that the joys of Soul are so many and so real. They never disappoint, they never leave a sting.

As he grows in wisdom and stature, he finds that Spirit is indeed the reality of existence. He knows not less but more of life when he learns that Spirit, God, is his Life. He has not less but more intelligence when he learns that divine Mind is the only Intelligence, and that this infinite Intelligence is forever reflected in man. He realizes more real joy and is more fully satisfied when he learns that pleasure is spiritual.

Thus we begin to see how it is that “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Godliness, or godlikeness, ever conforms to the law of God, and he who is content to seek harmony and happiness only in accordance with God’s law, has certainly become possessed of a treasure of inestimable value. He has reached the place where the allurements and temptations of the world have little power over him. The loss of material things disappoints and discourages the one who is looking to them for happiness, but not so with the one who has learned in whatsoever state he is, “there-with to be content.” Because he is not looking to matter to supply his needs, he has no fear that it can deprive him of the blessings he has found in divine Mind.

When writing to the Hebrews, Paul said, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” The Master said, “Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”

Thus did Jesus and Paul seek to turn the thought from material conditions and surroundings to the spiritual consciousness of existence. The more one becomes conscious of Spirit the less he is conscious of matter and the less influence do material things have over him. He requires less of what the world calls matter to satisfy him. He instinctively views all things form the standpoint of Mind instead of matter. He looks more and more to Mind to supply his needs and satisfy his desires. If he looks in faith, nothing doubting, he is not disappointed.

It is most important that one learn the lesson of contentment, learn to be “content with such things as ye have,” while solving the problems of life. Unreasonable expectations may do much to hinder progress. Christian Science declares the absolute Truth and sets before us the perfect ideal, declaring that only that which is perfect is real in an absolute sense; but it is most unreasonable for one to expect to attain perfection in a day or a year. It is a great work to meet and master all the claims of evil, but only by so doing can one reach perfection.

On one occasion when Jesus was asked by the soldiers what they should do, among other things he said, “be content with your wages.” Wages is the reward for labor and is presumed to be commensurate with the value of the labor performed. In the working out of his salvation one always reaps as he sows. If he sows sparingly he reaps sparingly; if he sows bountifully he reaps bountifully. There is, therefore, good reason why one should be content with his wages. If he does not receive as much as he desires, it should stimulate him to greater endeavors. Then if he honestly does the best he can he will be satisfied with his “just recompense of reward.”

The true Christian realizes that all his time and talents should be honestly and faithfully employed in the service of his Master. His own sense of right is a rebuke to carelessness and indifference. He must work if he would receive a reward. If he does the best he can he has a right to expect a just reward, and he is content with his wages. Even to-day he can say with the Psalmist, “Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.”