THE SECRET OF BEING CONTENT by
John McDuff I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need,
and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret
of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or
hungry, whether living in plenty or in need." Philippians 4, 11-13. It is from the state of our mind
that contentment arises, and not from the amount of our possessions. If we are not content with those
things which we have, we are not likely to be content if we
succeeded in attaining all that we desire. The possession of
all the good we may think it desirable or even possible to
attain would still leave an aching void, there would still be a
cruel something unpossessed. But when the mind and the present
condition are brought to meet, then, and then only, will true
contentment be found. If our heart is brought to our
condition, then our condition will then be according to our
heart. The consideration that our earthly
lot is appointed by God, that it is He who fixes the bounds
of our habitation, is eminently calculated to promote contentment. We are to remember that He is
not merely the Creator, but the Governor of the world, and that
every circumstance which transpires in our life is under His superintendence
and control. And hence we find the people
of God in every age passing by merely second causes, until they
come to the first great cause of all, they heard His voice,
and saw His hand in whatever befell them. There are some who
think that it is beneath the notice of God to regard such
trivial events as those which make up our common everyday history,
but in God's estimation, the distinctions of great and small,
of vast and minute, are altogether unknown. It is not a greater
act of condescension in God to number the hairs of our head
than it is for Him to number the stars of heaven. the one
being as near to his immensity as the other. Such is his infinite
greatness, that in comparison with it, the mightiest world
is on a level with the smallest atom. This doctrine is clearly
taught in the Volume of Inspiration. He who rules in the armies of
heaven, who commissions angels and flaming seraphs that stand
before his throne, saying to one, Come, and he comes, and
to another Go, and he goes, who wheels the innumerable worlds
which are scattered through the immensity of space in their appointed
courses, this great, adorable, incomprehensible being regards
with tender compassion the poor little sparrow which falls unheeded
to the ground, and clothes the lowliest flower with its tints
of beauty. Of his care we are warranted
in saying that nothing is too great to be above it, and that
nothing, on the other hand, is too minute to be beneath it.
were the doctrine of chance a doctrine of God's word, there might then
be some reason for our murmuring, but if it is He who makes poor
and who makes rich, who brings low and lifts up, if whatever
befalls us is by His appointment or permission whom we profess
to love and honour, then surely contentment with our lot must
be a reasonable duty indeed. In all this, Job did not sin
by charging God with wrongdoing. Job 1.22 Job saw the hand of
God in all that took place. It was not to the invasion of
the Sabaeans and Chaldeans. that he traced the loss of his
property. It was not the fury of mother
nature that he traced the death of his children. No, he looked
farther and higher, prostrate in adoration at the divine footstool. He exclaimed, I came naked from
my mother's womb, and I will be stripped of everything when
I die. The Lord gave me everything I
had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the
Lord!" Now, how important it is that the same mind which was
in Job should be in us also. To murmur under the divine dispensations,
to be dissatisfied with the lot which has been appointed to us,
to be always complaining of one circumstance or another, What
is this, in effect, but to charge God with wrongdoing? It is practically
to attribute folly to Him, who is the only wise God, and whose
knowledge and understanding are infinite. Oh, let us beware,
then, of a discontented spirit, remembering that God orders all
our affairs, Whatever He gives us, let us thankfully receive
it. Whatever He denies us, let us
be satisfied without it. Whatever He takes from us, let
us uncomplainingly part with it. Whatever trial He lays on
us, let us endeavor patiently to bear it. Yes, our lot in life
with all its attendant circumstances is chosen by God. Let the sun
of prosperity shine, or let the clouds of adversity lower. Let
our path be smooth, or let it be rugged. We should be disposed
to say, it is the Lord's will, let Him do what He thinks best. We may be often afflicted, being
called to eat the bread of trouble and drink the waters of affliction,
but let us not rest until we can utter these words. We may
not be able now to see how it is good, but let us think of
the wisdom and love of Him who placed us there, and can we doubt
it, whether we understand it or not, He is too wise to err,
and too good to be unkind. Good when he gives supremely
good, Nor less when he denies, Even crosses from his sovereign
hand Are blessings in disguise.