Daily Devotions

 

1 Timothy 6:7–8

"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."

Paul’s words strike at the heart of contentment. Life begins with empty hands and ends the same way. Possessions may fill our homes, but they cannot cross the threshold of eternity. True peace is found not in what we accumulate, but in trusting God to provide for our daily needs.

John Wesley understood this perspective well. When he learned that his home had been destroyed by fire, his response was calm and striking: “The Lord’s house burned. One less responsibility for me!” His possessions never possessed him.

Martin Luther expressed a similar truth when he wrote: “I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” His security was not in what he owned, but in whom he trusted.

A story is also told of Dr. George W. Truett, a Baptist pastor, who once dined with a wealthy oil baron. After the meal, the man proudly showed him his vast holdings—oil wells to the north, grain fields to the south, cattle to the east, forests to the west. “It’s all mine,” he declared with satisfaction. Expecting admiration, he paused. But Dr. Truett gently placed a hand on his shoulder, then pointed upward and asked, “And how much do you have in that direction?” The man lowered his head and confessed, “I never thought of that.”

A Word for Us

1 Timothy 6:7–8, along with these testimonies, reminds us that contentment is not about how much we hold, but about where we look. Greed looks outward and downward, always wanting more. Faith looks upward, entrusting all things to God, and finding peace in Him.

Prayer

Holy God,
Forgive me for the times I have been consumed by greed,
by covetous desires, and by chasing after excess.
Teach me to be content with what You provide—
to see food and clothing, shelter and community,
as gifts of Your loving care.
May my joy be rooted not in possessions,
but in You, and in the people You place in my life.
Help me to live with open hands and a trusting heart,
so that what I hold is always Yours.
In Jesus’ name I pray,
Amen.