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TOPIC: MacDuff, John - Encouragements to Patient Waiting (1864) (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 18 Contentment
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CONTENTMENT
"I have learned to be content in whatever state I am in." —Phil. 4:11
How few among us have made this advancement in knowledge! How ready are we, when anything thwarts our inclinations, disarranges our plans, or hinders our interests, to fret and murmur—to sit down in gloomy despondency, and say with the patriarch, "All these things are against me!" The reason is, because we have not, like the apostle, been "learning." Contentment is not acquired all at once. It is only by a gradual process that this spirit is fostered in us—only by striving to bear patiently the lesser ills of life—the daily crosses and vexations which come upon us—that we can acquire the power of bearing up, without complaint, under the more trying and oppressive sorrows which, in the providence of God, fall to our share.
Nor is it by trusting to our own strength that we can attain this happy frame of mind. God gives grace to those who improve what they have already received. The oftener He sees His child putting forth the strength already imparted, the more willing is He to renew that strength. It was so with the apostle. How varied had been his experience! and how strenuously did he seek, under every change of circumstance, to improve and manifest the grace of God which had been given him! Think of what he had to undergo while "learning" the lesson of contentment! In his journeyings and perils—his imprisonments and shipwrecks—his weariness and painfulness—his watchings, hunger, thirst, fastings, cold, and nakedness—he must have endured many severe and painful privations. But all the while he was "learning," and all the while realizing more fully that the grace of God was sufficient to enable him to undergo the countless trials which had been allotted. By degrees he had been instructed not to murmur at the allotments of Divine Providence—not to be envious at the prosperity of others—and not to repine when his comforts were removed.
And this, Christian, was no easy lesson. To be able to use the language of Paul marks a great advancement in the divine life. It is often a trying thing to see the wicked prospering—free from trouble and anxiety, unvisited by misfortune or calamity—and yet, amid suffering, and sickness, and distress, to cherish a contented spirit—to continue patient and trustful and uncomplaining. Not infrequently, alas, the language of the heart is similar to that of David, "Behold, these are the ungodly who prosper in the world—they increase in riches. Verily, I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning."
Reader, it is the triumph of true religion that it can stand such a shock—that it can so fill the heart with peace, so animate it with hope, and so establish its faith and trust in God—that trials, reverses, sicknesses, and sorrows only attract the believer nearer to the bosom of his God. And, in truth, it is not strange that they should do so. If I find that my God has comforted me under a small trial, shall I not repair to Him under a heavier one?—if He has spoken to me in accents of intenser love while suffering was pressing upon me than at other times, shall I not instantly flee to Him when my troubles return?—and if His grace has brought me forth out of one affliction, wiser, better, more earnest, self-denying, humble, and resigned, oh, to whom should I rush with greater eagerness and urgency, when the flood of sorrow is overwhelming me, than to Him who, having "given His own dear Son for me, shall with Him also freely give me all things" needful for my present emergency?
Besides, dear reader, never forget the necessity of trial. Assuredly God does not send trouble or sickness or poverty merely to fret and annoy His children—to render them unhappy and discontented. No! but forasmuch as our natures are sinful, and must be sanctified—forasmuch as we are willful, and must be brought to obedience—forasmuch as every remnant of the evil principle must be removed before we can enter the kingdom of heaven—God tries His children, not by a steady course of prosperity, nor by a long-continued and uniform adversity, but by transition from the one to the other. He knows that the grace which might be sufficient for the day of sunshine will not bear us up amid darkness and tempest—that the virtues which appear in the Christian when all is serene and tranquil, might be crushed and deadened amid reverses and disappointments.
And as it is His purpose to strengthen the Christian character—to develop it more and more, until it is fitted for His own immediate presence—He makes the believer's path one of varied experiences of joy and sorrow—of health and sickness—of prosperity and adversity. But then, new grace is imparted for every new form of trial, and new traits of character come into view in these rapid transitions of life. For as the gold or the diamond, unsubjected to the crucible and to other agencies, might have continued to shine with steady beauty and brilliancy, but not with the peculiar beauty effected by the refiner; so, in Christian life, many a beautiful trait of character would have remained undiscovered throughout unbroken prosperity or long-continued adversity. There might have been always the reality of religion, but not that peculiar manifestation which is produced in the transition from the one to the other. If never tried by sickness and suffering, never would the Christian learn to say with the apostle, "I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content;" and he would therefore fail to produce one of the most precious fruits of religion in the soul—the conviction that God is right in all His ways.
Consider, too, that many of the external evils are of our own choice. We have brought them on ourselves. They are the fruit of our own doings, it may be of our pride and selfishness, our worldliness, and waywardness, and folly. Why, then, be impatient and discontented under those evils which we ourselves have chosen? Why murmur and repine because these trees have borne their natural fruit?
Or, it may be, these apparent evils are beyond our control. We have no power to prevent them. Some, indeed, arise out of the very condition of our nature. And can we reasonably expect that the very nature of things should be altered so as to secure our ease and comfort?
Reflect, too, that the worst we have to suffer is far less than we deserve, and the least we enjoy far more than in justice we could expect. Christian, when you remember for how many years you lived in forgetfulness of God, and yet during the whole of that period were nurtured by His parental care!—when you consider for how long a time you continued in carelessness and indifference, and yet even then were sought and found by the influence of His good Spirit, and brought to the knowledge and love of Christ—when you reflect how God has watched over you since you have received the Savior into your heart—how He has preserved you from dangers, secured you in seasons of temptation, supported you in times of trial, cherished you in the days of sickness, comforted you in the hours of despondency—oh, surely you have reason to be content and thankful for the least mercy, and to be patient and submissive under the sorest trial!
Besides, who is it that measures out the changes in your earthly lot? No cross or trial comes to you but from a Father's hand—to whom you owe submission and obedience. He has appointed your present lot, and every ingredient in your cup is mingled by His own hand. In whatever state you now are, it is by His guidance that you have been led into it. And did you not promise to trust Him? Go back to the first Ebenezer you erected, when He helped you—when by His Holy Spirit you were enabled to say, "My Lord and my God." See the inscription—"Lord, I am Yours, to do with me as You desire. Lord, keep me, for I trust in You."
And now, because He has led you for a while in a thorny path—because some of your hopes have been blasted—because everything is not ordered according to your wishes—are you to give way to murmuring and discontent? Are you wiser than your heavenly Guide? Would He lay upon you an unnecessary burden? It may be a heavy one—long and painful sickness—days and nights of weariness and anguish. What then? All was "needed." You are pained, yes—but look not at what you are suffering, but at what you have deserved to suffer. "Why should a living man complain?" Have you received no proofs of God's tender mercy? God always, to His own children, sends His staff with His rod, His grace with His affliction; and if you have not realized that support in the time of greatest extremity, it is not because it is lacking to you, but because you have not laid hold upon it, and utilized it.
And yet again, Christian, has not God given the greatest pledge of His love and goodness that the most doubting and craving heart could desire—even His beloved Son, to be our sacrifice? and "how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" His own dear Son was given to the death for us. Can we then for a moment doubt that He will order all things for our real good? And when we think of the Savior's sufferings for our sakes—how patiently, how uncomplainingly, He bore His unparalleled sorrows—oh, surely we ought to strive to imitate His example!—surely we have reason to be contented to be conformed and subject to the will of the Captain of our salvation! As He was made perfect through suffering, so must we, that if we suffer with Him, we may be glorified with Him. If, then, a murmuring word or repining thought should arise in our minds, let us look by faith upon our dying Savior, and ask our own hearts, "Was not His cup more painful than mine?" and let the remembrance of His sufferings cause us to "count it all joy" to have an opportunity of honoring God by our patience and contentment with whatever is meted out for us.
Let us also strive to be contented with our earthly condition, when we consider that, if changes and vicissitudes do come upon us, if they are as necessary as the most valued of our blessings, God has also furnished daily helps—that we may bear them patiently and contentedly. He has given us divine and heavenly consolations in His blessed Word. He has promised the assurance of His love and goodness, and the light of His countenance, to carry us with comfort and dependence upon Him, amid them all. He has set before us bright examples of patience in various trying conditions of life—where we can trace the design and meaning of the visitation—its blessed results in drawing the believer closer to his God—and its final outcome in filling the soul with a perfect and unbroken peace.
And, above all, contentment ought to mark the Christian when he looks to the future. He is told that this world is not his home, but his place of trial and preparation for a better state. This world is but his pilgrimage state—his passage, and such a passage as must be accompanied with many vicissitudes—a place of warfare—a stormy sea, through which he must pass before he can reach the haven of rest. His country, his home, his place of rest and happiness, lies beyond death's rising flood, where there shall be no trouble, nor fears, nor dangers, but eternal and unchangeable comfort—fullness of pure and uninterrupted pleasures—and that for evermore.
What, then, though troubles rise around on every side, child of God, pray for grace to be able to say, "In whatever state I here am, may I be content." You have heaven and everlasting joy in reserve for you—and these light afflictions are only for a season. Then all shall be well—no more disappointments and sorrows—no more dark and stormy days—but the unclouded vision—the enjoyment of the presence of your God—a joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Leave God to deal with you; and though He causes grief, yet will He have compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men. Submit yourself willingly to the hand of your heavenly Father—to assign you prosperity or to visit with adversity—to bestow health or to send sickness—and then, although sudden passions of impatience and discontent may sometimes, like clouds, arise and trouble you for a while—yet this faith in God, and this hope of future blessedness, rooted in the heart, will, like the sun in yonder heavens, scatter and dispel them all, and cause the mild light of patience and contentment to shine through.
"Trust in the Lord, forever trust,
And banish all your fears."
Trust Him for the future, as you have proved His faithfulness in the past. Be assured, in regard to everything that may yet happen you—all is wisely ordered. You know not, indeed, what the future may bring for you; but be assured that, though the furnace of trial is needed, it cannot sever you from Christ your Savior; it cannot change your Father's love; it cannot weary out His care. Believe that, in the unknown and uncertain future, there shall not be one storm without His bidding—one pang without His presence; and stay your mind on the assurance that "all things shall work together for good to those who love God."
Heavenly Father, God of consolation, who knows our frame, and how little we can endure, even though we deserve so much—be pleased to remember me in mercy! O, either lighten my sufferings, or increase my spiritual strength; and if You do not see fit entirely to remove my burden, oh, enable me to bear what You are pleased to lay upon me. Preserve me from all murmuring. Give me, O Lord, the grace of contentment—and let no repining thoughts take possession of my soul.
Although You have made me acquainted with grief, and my sickness has become my inseparable companion, yet, O blessed Lord, grant that I may not think it long to wait Your time, when You are pleased to wait so long for the return of sinners, and are ever piteous and of tender mercy! Oh, make me so sensible of Your kindness and love, that I may be not only contented, but thankful under Your hand!
Teach me, O gracious Father, to see love, as well as justice, in all Your dealings, that I may humble myself under Your mighty hand, and confess that it is good for me to be afflicted.
Give me grace, O Lord, patiently to wait for You—in an assured expectation that I shall one day see cause to number my afflictions among my richest mercies. Teach and help me to glorify You in the time of my visitation—to honor You by a humble submission to Your will—a patient bearing of Your rod—and a faithful reformation of my heart and life—that so You may return to me with the visitations of Your love, and show me the joy of Your salvation, for Your mercy's sake in Christ Jesus. Amen.
"I was silent; I would not open my mouth,
for You are the one who has done this." Psalm 39:9
It is Your hand, my God!
My sorrow comes from Thee;
I bow beneath the chastening rod—
'Tis love that bruises me.
I would not murmur, Lord—
Before You I am dumb!
Lest I should breathe one murmuring word,
To You for help I come.
My God! Your name is Love—
A Father's hand is Thine;
With tearful eye I look above,
And cry, "Your will be mine."
I know Your will is right,
Though it may seem severe;
Your path is like unsullied light,
Though dark it oft' appear.
Jesus for me has died;
Your Son You did not spare;
His pierced hands, His bleeding side,
Your love for me declare.
Here my poor heart can rest;
My God, it cleaves to Thee;
Your will is love, Your end is blessed—
All work for good to me.