Are you Content?

[Christ4Ever]

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11


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These words show us that contentment is not a natural propensity of man. "Ill weeds grow apace." Covetousness, discontent, and murmuring are as natural to man as thorns are to the soil. We need not sow thistles and brambles; they come up naturally enough, because they are indigenous to earth: and so, we need not teach men to complain; they complain fast enough without any education. But the precious things of the earth must be cultivated. If we would have wheat, we must plough and sow; if we want flowers, there must be the garden, and all the gardener's care. Now, contentment is one of the flowers of heaven, and if we would have it, it must be cultivated; it will not grow in us by nature; it is the new nature alone that can produce it, and even then we must be specially careful and watchful that we maintain and cultivate the grace which God has sown in us. Paul says, "I have learned . . . to be content;" as much as to say, he did not know how at one time. It cost him some pains to attain to the mystery of that great truth. No doubt he sometimes thought he had learned, and then broke down. And when at last he had attained unto it, and could say, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content," he was an old, grey-headed man, upon the borders of the grave—a poor prisoner shut up in Nero's dungeon at Rome. We might well be willing to endure Paul's infirmities, and share the cold dungeon with him, if we too might by any means attain unto his good degree. Do not indulge the notion that you can be contented with learning, or learn without discipline. It is not a power that may be exercised naturally, but a science to be acquired gradually. We know this from experience. Brother, hush that murmur, natural though it be, and continue a diligent pupil in the College of Content.

Charles Spurgeon

 

[brakelite]

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11


​

These words show us that contentment is not a natural propensity of man. "Ill weeds grow apace." Covetousness, discontent, and murmuring are as natural to man as thorns are to the soil. We need not sow thistles and brambles; they come up naturally enough, because they are indigenous to earth: and so, we need not teach men to complain; they complain fast enough without any education. But the precious things of the earth must be cultivated. If we would have wheat, we must plough and sow; if we want flowers, there must be the garden, and all the gardener's care. Now, contentment is one of the flowers of heaven, and if we would have it, it must be cultivated; it will not grow in us by nature; it is the new nature alone that can produce it, and even then we must be specially careful and watchful that we maintain and cultivate the grace which God has sown in us. Paul says, "I have learned . . . to be content;" as much as to say, he did not know how at one time. It cost him some pains to attain to the mystery of that great truth. No doubt he sometimes thought he had learned, and then broke down. And when at last he had attained unto it, and could say, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content," he was an old, grey-headed man, upon the borders of the grave—a poor prisoner shut up in Nero's dungeon at Rome. We might well be willing to endure Paul's infirmities, and share the cold dungeon with him, if we too might by any means attain unto his good degree. Do not indulge the notion that you can be contented with learning, or learn without discipline. It is not a power that may be exercised naturally, but a science to be acquired gradually. We know this from experience. Brother, hush that murmur, natural though it be, and continue a diligent pupil in the College of Content.

Charles Spurgeon

Hi C4E, I like this devotional. And you could insert the word 'patience' instead of contentment. Impatience is as natural to fallen man as is covetousness.

Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Patience in all avenues of life is as necessary as contentment. Both I feel are reflections of the strength of our faith.
Yet there is an aspect of discontent that I think is acceptable...the discontent with things the way they are in the spiritual life...there is nothing wrong with coveting holiness...there is nothing wrong with seeking greater understanding of God and His ways...being discontented with our personal low level of piety /morality is a good thing don't you think? Oh, and then there is the discontent with having to tolerate this present world of evil...which leads to the reason Paul says we must be patient....

37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

 

[Christ4Ever]

Hi C4E, I like this devotional. And you could insert the word 'patience' instead of contentment. Impatience is as natural to fallen man as is covetousness.

Patience is greatly needed by the believer brother, yet isn't this patience evident in the person that can be content regardless of the circumstances they may find themselves in? If one is content what room does covetousness have in us?

The realization that He is control (Romans 8:28) should bring with it patience, yet contentment, an ability to be joyful at all times (Phil 4:4) is something truly foreign to us, and even to many believers. The believers who are downcast by the circumstances outside of their control, the events in the world, even the ones happening in their own lives, need to "cultivate contentment". As Charles Spurgeon mentions, contentment is not something born naturally to man, but one that the new man may grow to! I do believe that only the Born Again man is capable of this.

Once again, a joy my brother!
Love you.
C4E