Christian contentment

Christian contentment is expressed in the words of the apostle, “I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” He had within him a source of satisfaction, a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Thus he was independent of that which was around.

Proverbs 14:14 declares, “A good man shall be satisfied from himself.” Walking in the fear of God he has an inward testimony that he pleases God and an abiding contentment in the all-sufficiency of Christ.

Wonderful—is it not?—that in this dissatisfied, unsatisfying world (where men hurry and worry, seeking rest and finding it not) one should be able to say, “Enough!”

“I have no blanks now,” said a Christian who was asked to go to places of sinful pleasure where once he had sought (but never found) heart-satisfaction. Hearts-ease is a flower which grows only in the knowledge of, company of, and service of Christ. But there it luxuriates. God who in His rich grace has provided heaven for us hereafter, knows how to provide happiness for us here and now.

This the apostle had learned “Everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

He was a graduate in the university of adversity. And he was a man like to ourselves. Let us not forget this.

I.F.