Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. Relatively few of the Lord's
children are called upon to undergo the same level of trials that
the Apostle Paul was called to endure, and just as few are called
to enjoy the heights of joy to which he was lifted. But all
of God's children are being taught the same lesson that he said
he had learned, in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content. This is not an understanding
that men are born with, but God's elect sons must be taught it
to greater or lesser degrees as the Lord sees fit. It is part
of our human nature to grumble, fret, worry, and complain about
the various states we find ourselves in. It seems that we are born
with the expectation that all of our hopes, plans, and dreams
should come true. Everything is always supposed
to work out. When we get in the car in the
morning, we just assume that it should crank, it should never
run out of gas, or have a flat tire, especially when we are
already running late for an important meeting. But God does not view
things as we do, and He has often determined that the car should
have a dead battery, or run out of gas, or have a flat tire,
especially when we are already running late for an important
meeting. He is presently working in his people and is daily conforming
them to the image and likeness of Christ, who did no sin, neither
was guile found in his mouth, who when he was reviled, reviled
not again. When he suffered, he threatened
not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.
This is extremely taxing to those he is pleased to exercise by
chastening. Most people think that the chastening
spoken of in the scriptures that is applied to the sons of God
is the result of disobedience or some retaliation by the Lord
on them for some wickedness which has arisen in them. And then
they conversely feel that any blessings they enjoy are the
result of some obedience they have performed. This is the exact
viewpoint that Job's illustrious friends had as they raked them
over the coals to the point that Job was moved to call them miserable
comforters and physicians of no value. No chastening is at
the present time, that is, when we are undergoing it, an enjoyable
thing, but the benefit of it is seen once the chastening has
had its perfect work, and the fruits of it are made plain to
see. The chastening which the Lord is pleased to apply to His
free-born sons is not some foretaste of His vengeance, but is His
perfect design to teach us valuable lessons through our own murmurings
and disobedience, as He sends His Holy Spirit to convince us
of our sin. Contentment in whatever state
we are in must be learned. It is not natural to us. Even
as the scripture says, though he were a son, yet learned he
obedience by the things which he suffered. This means that
it was necessary for him to go through the same temptations
as we, yet without sin, in order that he might experience our
humanity. This is almost too glorious to contemplate, but
we do understand that because of this, he is able to be touched
with the feelings of our infirmities. But even as he learned, that
is experienced obedience. So it is that we shall learn
contentment. Paul is not speaking to the Philippians
as a young man. but penned these words after
many years of ministry and sacrifice. It is almost impossible to expect
that a young man should understand contentment, because it is so
natural for young men to overestimate their ability to control the
events in their lives. The converse of this can only
be learned by the faithful chastening of the Lord. This is why Paul
told Timothy not to set apart a young man to the office of
elder or bishop. Not a novice, lest being lifted
up with pride, he fall into the condemnation of the devil. The
office of elder is not to be occupied by someone because they
are simply knowledgeable of doctrine, but they must have been exercised
by the Lord to learn lessons which cannot be gained from books
or even from a mere study of the Scripture. The Scripture
must be applied to the lives of those whom God would raise
up for such a work. There is nothing more disconcerting,
if not downright aggravating, to those who have yet to learn
contentment than those who, by the grace of God, confess with
Paul that they have learned it. They are often accused of being
lazy, unmotivated, unconcerned, and unrealistic, not to mention
having their heads in the clouds, or the classic too-heavenly-minded
to be of any earthly good. Martha was busy preparing a meal
for her guests, as she was given grace to do, but she began to
fret that Mary was not giving her aid. The Lord said, Martha,
Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things, but
one thing is needful, and Mary hath chosen that good part, which
shall not be taken from her. To wait upon the Lord without
murmuring is the blessing of contentment. For a free CD containing
15 of these radio broadcasts, Send an email to forthepoor at
windstream dot net.