How a Christian May Kknow if He has Learned Contentment
The apostle speaks of those spiritual plants which were laden with gospel-fruit. (Ph. 1:11) A Christian is compared to the vine, (an emblem of fruitfulness) he must bear full clusters: we are bid to perfect that which is lacking in our faith. (1 Th. 3:10) A Christian must never be so old as to be past bearing; he brings forth fruit in his old age. (Psalm 92:14) A heaven-born plant is ever growing; he never thinks he grows enough; he is not content unless he adds every day to his spiritual stature. We must not be content just with so much grace as will keep life and soul together, a grain or two will not suffice—but we must be still increasing, "with the increase of God."
(Col. 2:19) We had need renew our strength as the eagle. (Is. 40:31) Our sins are renewed, our temptations are renewed, our needs are renewed—and shall not our strength be renewed? O be not content with grace in its infancy! You look for degrees of glory, be Christians of high degrees. Though a believer should be contented with a little estate—yet not with a little piety. A Christian of the right breed, labors still to excel himself, and come nearer to that holiness in God, who is the original, the pattern, and prototype of all holiness.
Showing how a Christian may know whether he has learned this Divine Art of Contentment Thus having laid down these three cautions, I proceed, in the next place, to an use of trial. How may a Christian know that he has learned this lesson of contentment? I shall lay down some characters by which you shall know it.
1. A contented spirit is SILENT when under afflictions. "I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for You are the one who has done this!" (Psalm 39:9) Contentment silences all dispute: "he sits alone and keeps silence." (La. 3:28)
There is a sinful silence—when God is dishonored, his truth wounded, and men hold their peace, this silence is a loud sin. And there is a holy silence—when the soul sits down quiet and content with its condition. When Samuel tells Eli that dreadful message from God, "that judgment is coming for his family," (1 Sa. 3:13,14) does Eli murmur or dispute? No! he has not one word to say against God: "It is the Lord's will. Let him do what he thinks best." A discontented spirit says as Pharaoh, "who is the Lord?" why should I suffer all this? why should I be brought into this low condition? "who is the Lord?" But a gracious heart says, as Eli, ""It is the Lord's will. Let him do what he thinks best." When Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, had offered up strange fire, and fire went from the Lord and devoured them, (Le. 10:1) is Aaron now in a passion of discontent?
No! "Aaron held his peace." A contented spirit is never angry—unless with himself for having hard thoughts of God. When Jonah said, "I do well to be angry," this was not a contented spirit, it was not fitting for a prophet.
2. A contented spirit is a CHEERFUL spirit. Contentment is something more than patience; for patience denotes only submission, contentment denotes cheerfulness.
A contented Christian is more than passive; he does not only bear the cross—but take up the cross. (Mat. 6:24) He looks upon God as a wise God; and whatever he does, it is in order to a cure. Hence the contented
Christian is cheerful, and with the apostle, "I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties." (2 Cor.
12:10) He does not only submit to God's dealings—but rejoices in them! He does not only say, "just is the Lord in all that has befallen me," but "good is the Lord." This is to be contented. A sullen melancholy is hateful to God. It is said, "God loves a cheerful giver,"
(2 Cor. 9:7) yes and God loves a cheerful liver! We are bid in Scripture, "not to be anxious," but we are not bid not to be cheerful.
He who is contented with his condition, does not abate of his spiritual joy; and indeed he has that within him which is the ground of cheerfulness; he carries a pardon sealed in his heart! (Mat. 9:2)
3. A contented spirit is a THANKFUL spirit. This is a degree above cheerfulness; "in everything giving thanks." (1 Th. 5:18) A gracious heart spies mercy in every condition, therefore has his heart pitched up to thankfulness. Others will bless God for prosperity—but he blesses him for affliction. Thus he reasons with himself; am I in need? God sees it better for me to lack than to abound; God is now dieting me, he sees it better for my spiritual health sometimes to be kept fasting; therefore he does not only submit—but is thankful. The malcontent is ever complaining of his condition; the contented spirit is ever giving thanks. O what height of grace is this! A contented heart is a temple where the praises of God are sung forth—not a sepulcher wherein they are buried.
A contented Christian in the greatest straits, has his heart enlarged and dilated in thankfulness; he often contemplates God's love in election—he sees that he is a monument of mercy, therefore desires to be a pattern of praise. There is always thankful music in a contented soul; the Spirit of grace works in the heart like new wine, which under the heaviest pressures of sorrow, will have a vent open for thankfulness: this is to be content.
4. He who is content, no condition comes amiss to him; so it is in the text, "in whatever condition I am." A Christian should be content in any and every situation; either to lack or abound. The people of Israel knew neither how to abound, nor yet how to lack; when they were in need they murmured; "can God prepare a table in the wilderness?" and when they ate, and were filled, then they lifted up the heel. Paul knew how to manage every state; he could be either a note higher or lower; he was in this sense an universalist, he learned to be content whatever the circumstances. If he was in prosperity, he knew how to be thankful. If he was in adversity, he knew how to be patient; he was neither lifted up with the one, nor cast down with the other.
Thus a contented Christian knows how to respond to any condition.
We have those who can be contented in some conditions—but not in
every estate; they can be content in a wealthy estate, when they have the streams of milk and honey; while Gods candle shines upon their head—now they are content—but if the wind turns and is against them—now they are discontented. While they have a silver crutch to lean upon—they are contented; but if God breaks this crutch—now they are discontented. But Paul had learned in every estate to carry himself with an equanimity of mind. Others could be content with their affliction—if God would allow them to pick and choose. They could be content to bear such a cross of their choosing; they could better endure sickness than poverty; or bear loss of estate than loss of children; if they might have a cross of their own choosing—they would be content. A contented Christian does not go to choose his cross—but leaves God to choose for him; he is content both for the kind of the affliction and the duration of the affliction. A contented spirit says, "let God apply whatever medicine he pleases, and let it lie on as long as it will; I know when it has done its cure, and eaten the venom of sin out of my heart, God will take it away."
In a word, a contented Christian, being sweetly captivated under the authority of the Word, desires to be wholly at God's disposal, and cheerfully lives in whatever circumstances that God has placed him in.
5. He who is contented with his condition—to rid himself out of trouble, will not turn himself into sin. I deny not but a Christian may lawfully seek to change his condition: so far as God's providence goes before, he may follow. But when men will not follow providence but run before it, as he who said, "this evil is of the Lord, why should I wait any longer. (2 Ki. 6:33) If God does not open the door of his providence, they will break it open—and wind themselves out of affliction by sin; bringing their souls into trouble! This is far from holy contentment, this is unbelief broken into rebellion. A contented Christian is willing to wait God's leisure, and will not stir until God opens a door. The contented Christian says, with reverence, "God has cast me into this condition; and though it is sad, and troublesome, yet I will not stir, until God by a clear providence