Elisabeth Elliot on Contentment
Recently, my wife and I hosted a young family preparing to move to a remote area of Southeast Asia. They are embarking on a mission to help run an agricultural faith-driven business that offers hope and purposeful employment to communities in great spiritual and physical need. I often find that such interactions benefit me more than I contribute, and this was no exception. My wife and I were deeply moved by their determination and drive to live and work among some of the least reached, with their little girl in tow and another child on the way. We were inspired by their satisfaction in Jesus and deep, meaningful contentment in His will for their lives.
It is easy to place our joy and contentment in our circumstances, material possessions, or financial success. Yet, here we witnessed a young family truly content with seemingly “less” than the American dream, and part of me envied them for that.
They are leaving behind all material possessions…selling what they can and giving away the remainder.
They are leaving a level of comfort and embracing a life of difficulty.
They are not motivated to become millionaires or reach any sense of great financial success, instead they are more concerned about seeing impoverished communities flourish.
This experience reminded me of Paul’s words to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:6-12: “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” I find that fascinating. In the financial investment world, exceptional performance is great gain, above-market return is great gain, high-yielding businesses and appreciating assets are great gains. Yet, Paul describes godliness with contentment as “great gain.”
But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 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. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:6-12
Wrestling with this text is not easy… I’m left examining my own heart:
What needs to change in my mindset to understand the greatness of gain that is contentment?
Do I see the desire for riches as a danger the way Paul describes it? Paul warns Timothy of these temptations and tells him to “flee these things” (verse 11).
How can I continue to resist the temptations of mammon as I run towards godliness and contentment in Christ alone?
What is the root of discontentment? - Is it not idolatry and unbelief?
How do I apply the truth of God’s word to areas of my heart that are infected by idolatry and unbelief?
Admittedly, I think my wife is better at practicing contentment than I am. She and I are fans of Elisabeth Elliot and often listen to recordings of her teachings. Last year, we read Elisabeth Elliot’s biography as a family. Much like our encounter with the young professionals moving to Southeast Asia, Elisabeth’s story was inspirational, to say the least.
Elisabeth Elliot’s Story
Elisabeth Elliot was a missionary, author, and speaker who dedicated her life to sharing the gospel and teaching about the transformative power of Christ. She learned the value of practicing godliness and contentment alongside her husband, Jim Elliot, who was martyred while attempting to evangelize the Waorani people of Ecuador. Remarkably, Elisabeth continued their mission, living among the very people who had taken her husband’s life, demonstrating the profound contentment and peace she found in Christ.
Elliot famously said, “The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances” . This profound statement underscores that true contentment is found in a relationship with Jesus, not in altering our external situations. Her life and teachings emphasize that contentment arises from trusting God’s goodness and character, regardless of our circumstances.
Reflecting on Contentment
So, what about you? What does contentment look like in your life?
As a steward, owning nothing but managing everything for God, what should contentment look like for us?
As faith-driven investors and business leaders, may we not find our contentment solely in our portfolio’s financial performance or the net worth of our estate compared to those around us. May we truly find contentment in Jesus. May we be good and faithful stewards who are most satisfied in Christ alone!
As you reflect on this article, I encourage you to resist the desire to be rich and any semblance of a “love of money”, which is the root of all kinds of evils. Instead, may we joyfully pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness, and contentment in Christ’s radically generous love.
Let us take to heart Paul’s exhortation to Timothy and strive for godliness with contentment, for this is truly great gain!
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