Reasons Pressing to Holy Contentment
Reasons Pressing to Holy Contentment.
Having opened the nature of contentment, I come next to lay down some reasons or arguments to contentment, which may preponderate with us.
The first is, God's PRECEPT. Contentment is charged upon us as a duty, "be content with such things as you have." (Heb. 13:5) The same God, who has bid us believe, has bid us to be content. If we obey not, we run ourselves into sin. God's Word is a sufficient warrant; it has authority in it. God's Word must be the star which guides, and his will the weight that moves our obedience; his will is a law, and has majesty enough in it to captivate us into obedience; our hearts must not be more unquiet than the raging sea, which at his
Word is stilled.
The second reason enforcing contentment, is, God's PROMISE. For he has said "I will never leave you, nor forsake you."
(He. 13:5) Here God has engaged himself, under hand and seal for our necessary provisions. If a king should say to one of his subjects, I will take care of you; as long as I have any crown-revenues, you shall be provided for; if you are in danger—I will secure you; if in need—I will supply you. Would not that subject be content? Behold, God has here made promise to the believer, and as it were, entered into bond for his security, "I will never leave you;" shall not this charm away the devil of discontent? "Leave your fatherless children with me, I will preserve them alive." (Jer. 49:11) Methinks I see the godly man on his death-bed much discontented, and hear him complaining what will become of my wife and children when he is dead and gone.
God says, "trouble not yourself, be content, I will take care of your children; and let your widow trust in me." God has made a promise to us, that he will not leave us, and has entailed the promise upon our wife and children; and will not this satisfy us? True faith will take
God's single bond, without calling for witnesses.
Be content, by virtue of a decree. Whatever our condition is, God the umpire of the world, has from everlasting, decreed that condition for us, and by his providence ordered all details thereunto.
Let a Christian often think with himself, "who has placed me here, whether I am in a high sphere, or in a lower. Not chance or fortune, as the blind heathens imagined. No! it is the wise God who has by his providence fixed me in this orb."
We must act that scene which God would have us. Say not, "such an one has occasioned this to me!" Look not too much at the underwheel. We read in Ezekiel, of a "wheel within a wheel." (Ez. 1:16)
God's decree is the cause of the turning of the wheels, and his providence is the inner-wheels which move all the rest. God's providence is that helm which turns about the whole ship of the universe. Say then, as holy David, "I was silent, I opened not my mouth, because you, Lord, did it." (Psalm 39:9) God's providence, which is nothing else but the carrying on of his decree—should be a counterpoise against discontent. God has set us in our station, and he has done it in wisdom.
We imagine that such a condition of life is good for us; whereas if we were our own carvers, we would often cut the worst piece. Lot, being put to his choice, chose Sodom, which soon after was burned with fire. Rachel was very desirous of children, "give me children or I die," and it cost her her life in bringing forth a child. Abraham was earnest for Ishmael, "O that Ishmael might live before you!" but he had little comfort either from him or his seed; he was born a son of strife, his hand was against every man, and every man's hand against him. The disciples wept for Christ's leaving the world, they chose his physical presence: whereas it was best for them that Christ should be gone, for else "the comforter would not come." (John 16:7) David chose the life of his child, "he wept and fasted for it;" (2 Sam. 12:16) whereas if the child had lived—it would have been a perpetual monument of his shame.
If we would be able to parcel out our own comforts, we would often parcel out that which is harmful to us. Is it not well for the child— that the parent should choose for it? were it left to itself, it would perhaps choose a knife to cut its own finger. It is well for the patient, that he is at the physician's appointment. The consideration of a decree determining, and a providence disposing of all things, should work our hearts to holy contentment. The wise God has ordered our condition; if he sees it better for us to abound—we shall abound; if he sees it better for us to be in need—we shall be in need. Be content to be at God's disposal.
God sees, in his infinite wisdom, the same condition is not best for all; that which is good for one, may be bad for another. One season of weather will not serve all men's occasions, one needs sunshine, another rain. One condition of life will not fit every man, no more than one suit of apparel will fit every body. Prosperity is not fit for all, nor is adversity fit for all. If one man be brought low, perhaps he can bear it better; he has a greater stock of grace, more faith and patience; he can "gather grapes from thorns", pick some comfort out of the cross. Everyone cannot do this. Another man is seated in an eminent place of dignity; he is fitter for it; perhaps it is a place which requires more wisdom, which everyone is not capable of; perhaps he can use his estate better, he has a public heart as well as a public place. The wise God sees that condition to be bad for one, which is good for another; hence it is, that he places men in different orbs and spheres; some higher, some lower. One man desires health, God sees sickness is better for him; God will work spiritual health out of physical sickness, by bringing the body of death, into a consumption.
Another man desires liberty, God sees bondage to be better for him; he will work his liberty by bondage; when his feet are bound, his heart shall be most enlarged. Did we believe this, it would give a check to the sinful disputes and cavils of our hearts: "Shall I be discontented at that which is enacted by God's decree, and ordered by His wise providence?" Is this to be God' child—or a rebel?