Commentary on 1 Timothy 6:6-19

Jaclyn P. Williams

Live not for battles won.
Live not for the-end-of-the-song.
Live in the along.¹

In her charge to “live in the along,” Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Gwendolyn Brooks guides us to focus on the journey rather than the destination. This may sound cliché to some, but for others, it resonates within our hearts, minds, and spirits. Along the journey is the place of learning, growing, and building community with fellow travelers.

In this way, Brooks’ words are a valid accompaniment to Paul’s pastoral counsel in 1 Timothy 6:6–19. It takes work, but when we can “live in the along,” we flow between inner maturation and outer expression of faith in the present moment. Verse 6 projects us into the rest of Paul’s guidance on vices and virtues. It is worthwhile to sit with verse 6 and reflect on what speaks to us about living in the present moment. After all, the present moment is the gift, challenge, and opportunity in front of us.

It seems simple if we let verse 6 sit on the surface of our individual and communal relationship with God, self, and others. There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment. Who would say no to this proposition? Yet, if we look below the surface, some deeper truths emerge. These truths run deep in our lives of faith, and we need God’s help to fully bear the fruit they offer.

“Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment …” (1 Timothy 6:6).

What is godliness?

In the Greco-Roman world, the term could be understood as positioning oneself as a devoted servant of some divinity. For the followers of the way of Jesus Christ, those first-century forebearers, this godliness was more than adopting a set of behaviors. They were devoted to this life of discipleship. They abided with their awe of God, which helped them resist taking God for granted. Importantly, godliness relates to walking with God and others on this path. This mode of living can be articulated as a life of God-with-ness.

Behavior is formed and transformed in this way of life because the presence of God is an excavating catalyst—God’s presence roots out sources of waywardness and disconnection from God. God’s presence applies the sight-giving balm of wisdom. God’s presence propels and compels us to be conformed to Christ. Godliness is a response to God’s goodness rather than a method of scoring righteousness. The process of godliness begins with God, and we are called to collaborate in nurturing it through enlivened faith.

What images come to mind as we reflect on the godliness emphasized in 1 Timothy? What does godliness feel like? Communion, perhaps? Peace? What does godliness look like and sound like? Our discipleship continually returns to the questions individually and collectively, offering the questions to God. We listen for the answers and follow with trust in the power and will of God to form us as “godly.” Thus, the fruit of godliness is born in relationship with the One we seek to emulate.

What is contentment?

Understanding how “contentment” was used in the Greco-Roman world demonstrates how the first-century followers of Christ reinterpreted societal concepts within their newfound faith. For the larger culture, contentment was based on understanding one’s capacity for self-sufficiency and independence as defining self-worth. This created a mindset that we, in our humanity, find our purpose and satisfaction in life within our capacity.

On the surface, this may sound good, especially for those formed by societal norms that celebrate individual accomplishments over communal achievements. Yet, for Christians, this focus on the individual must be placed in a framework of formation in the way of following Jesus Christ. The early church was able to reinterpret contentment as being centered in God’s provision.

Furthermore, this reframing focused on Christ’s sufficiency as being the sufficiency of those who follow the path of Christ. This was revolutionary in the first century, and it is revolutionary now. We set down our false narratives of self-reliance and embrace the freedom of dependence on God’s sustenance for our minds, bodies, and spirits.

As we reflect on the gains and losses of life, what does this revolutionary turn call for, individually and communally? First, imagine what this surrender to Christ-contentment might look like. This is a way of opening ourselves up to the possibility of living out the hoped-for reality. From there, we can trust God to make up the difference. We can trust God’s Holy Spirit to re-interpret and re-form us in the way and will of contentment.

How do we combine one with the other?

Verse 6 shares that there is “great gain” in combining godliness and contentment. How do we quantify this great gain? Godliness leads us to a more profound capacity for holistically healthy relationships with God, self, and others. Contentment is the path of God’s peace beyond understanding and rejection of hollow success. Thus, the gain is limitless.

As is true with God’s provision in all things, we receive freely through grace, mercy, and love.

As is exhorted in verse 11, we intentionally and explicitly “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.” We do not work this gain in our power. This is the relief of following Christ.

Remember, the present moment, the living in the along, is in front of us right now. We focus not on the battles, though they are difficult. We focus not on the end of the song, but on all the chord progressions as we go. Being formed in godliness and contentment is a lifelong journey that can only be traveled one step at a time. We let our sanctified imaginations show us what godliness and contentment look like in each season of life. Along the way, we share the fruit of each season of this journey. We do this “so that [we] may take hold of the life that really is life” (verse 19). May God give us strength for the journey.