But godliness with contentment is great gain.

1 Timothy 6:6

[Show in context]

If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

1 Timothy 6:3-10

Commentary

In the overall passage, Paul is writing a letter to Timothy with instructions on how to run and teach a church. Here Paul is addressing people who think that the goal of being godly is getting rich. (“…who think that godliness is a means to financial gain” from the previous verse.). Instead of using godliness for getting rich, you should instead be godly and content with what God gave. Paul goes on to point out that we start with nothing and end with nothing, so if our basic needs are taken care of, then we should be thankful and content. The passage leads up the the famous “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” in 1 Timothy 6:10.