If more were good for me, George
Milne, Lessons for the Christian's Daily Walk, 1859. Better what
the eye sees, the enjoyment of what is available to one, than
the cravings of wandering desire. This is also vanity, emptiness,
meaningless and futility, and a striving after the wind and
a feeding on it. Ecclesiastes 6.9 It is a bitter
disappointment for a man to long for what he has not, for what
he cannot have, that is, to sigh for plenty in the midst of poverty,
to aspire for luxury and have nothing but simple fare, to have
dreams of grandeur and ambition, and yet to walk in humble life. to aspire to eminence, and then
return to our mundane occupations. All this is indeed lamentable
to the heart. Oh, how desire wanders, refusing
to be satisfied with present comforts! Memory revels in the
past, and hope dwells upon the future. The soul thus feeds on
shadows, and leaves reality behind. There is bitterness in this more
than the tongue can tell. Philosophy says, Do not repine
at your lot, but make the best of it. This is called comfort
after all. Blind fate says, Hush, it is
your destiny. Neither is this a cure for wandering
desire. The Christian has a remedy which
never fails when properly applied, the Savior's presence. This turns
poverty to riches, invests the humblest meal with luxury, makes
crowded cities as pleasant as the mountaintop, imparts refreshment
in the midst of labor, fills voids with Christ's fullness,
and gives us the presence of the best of friends. Surely,
I am with you all the days, perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion,
to the very close and consummation of the age. Matthew 28.20 Children
of God, your heavenly Father says, All things are yours. 1 Corinthians 3.21 And so they
are, in the degree and manner that is good for me. All the
gold in the world is Christ's, and as His child He gives me
just as much as suits my best interest. If more were good for
me, would not my loving Saviour give me more money, or material
things, or health, or friendship? Come back then, wandering desire,
do not roam abroad over that which is not yours. That is forbidden
ground. What is your present lot? Scan
it well, look at it through the lens of faith, and you will see
a blessing in it. You will find a Father's love,
a Savior's presence, and the Spirit's comforts wrapped in
the garb of present things and rays of glory coming from them
all. is not what I now have better
than the cravings of wandering desire, with such realities better,
far better, than the shadows of wandering desire? Be content
with what you have, for God has said, I will never fail you,
I will never abandon you.