Contentment In Christ
House For Sale
A man became envious of his friends because they had larger and more luxurious homes. So he listed his house with a real estate firm, planning to sell it and to purchase a more impressive home. Shortly afterward, as he was reading the classified section of the newspaper, he saw an ad for a house that seemed just right. He promptly called the realtor and said, “A house described in today’s paper is exactly what I’m looking for. I would like to go through it as soon as possible!” The agent asked him several questions about it and then replied, “But sir, that’s your house your describing
Elijah learned his lessons in the school of Cherith; Paul learned his in the school of Christ.
This chapter is one of great promises (for example, vv. 7, 19). No wonder Paul can express his contentment in all circumstances and situations. For him there was no “winter of our discontent” as there was for Shakespeare.
I. The pupil: “I have learned.”
Paul is writing from experience, his own personal experience of the goodness of God in hardship, privation, and persecution. He has learned or been instructed in such times to trust God and lean on Jesus. He is using a word connected with the mystery religions of his day—to be “initiated.” As the one initiated was taught the secret signs, symbols, and passwords, so Paul has been initiated into this state of contentment in all circumstances of life.
A Christian is, of course, a disciple and the word means “learner” or “pupil.” Once Paul had sat at the feet of Gamaliel, now he is a pupil of Jesus Christ. All of us must learn this lowly position, like Mary who “sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.”
II. The school: “in whatsoever state I am.”
The site of Elijah’s school, Cherith, is uncertain. Paul’s school has classrooms everywhere (“in whatsoever state”).
A. Adversity is a classroom that we must all enter at some time or other. “I know how to be abased,” writes Paul. J. B. Phillips translates it: “I know how to live when things are difficult.” Paul had the difficulty of his constant thorn in the flesh, but God’s grace was sufficient and he was made perfect through suffering. God’s refining process went on continually. So in our times of adversity—business failures, strained family relationships, illness, and all the rest of them—this is the classroom in which we learn much.
B. Anxiety is another room of learning. “Be careful for nothing,” says Paul (“don’t worry over anything whatever,” Phillips). Learn in this classroom to sing, “All your anxiety, all your care, Bring to the mercy-seat, Leave it there.”
C. Necessity is a third classroom. “Not that I speak in respect of want,” writes Paul. He knew what it was, like his Savior, to have just the bare necessities, not the luxuries, of life. God promised to supply all his needs, but not all his wants.
D. Prosperity was also a room in Paul’s school. He writes, “I know how to abound.” Prosperity, success, plenty, luxury—these bring their own special problems. An affluent society, with an abundance of money, luxuries, and leisure, is a society with mounting problems. As a hymn writer put it: “We should expect some danger nigh when we receive too much delight.”
III. The lesson Paul learned as a pupil in this school: “to be content.”
The Greek means “to be satisfied completely.” Paul is not writing of mere resignation with one’s lot but complete satisfaction because of conformity to God’s will. No wonder he wrote to Timothy: “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” William Matson echoed Paul’s words when he wrote: “O blessed life! the mind that sees, Whatever change the years may bring, A mercy still in everything, And shining through all mysteries.” John Newton was in perfect agreement: “Since all that I meet Shall work for my good, The bitter is sweet, The medicine food.”
“To be content”—that was Paul’s constant state, not his passing mood. Every day he attended Christ’s school and every day he learned from the divine teacher, the Holy Spirit, how to be content in all circumstances. The badge of Paul’s school could have been a cross with a hand grasping it and the motto, Et teneo et teneor (I both hold and am held). Nothing less can bring contentment and with it peace and rest.
Elijah learned his lessons in the school of Cherith; Paul learned his in the school of Christ.
This chapter is one of great promises (for example, vv. 7, 19). No wonder Paul can express his contentment in all circumstances and situations. For him there was no “winter of our discontent” as there was for Shakespeare.
I. The pupil: “I have learned.”
Paul is writing from experience, his own personal experience of the goodness of God in hardship, privation, and persecution. He has learned or been instructed in such times to trust God and lean on Jesus. He is using a word connected with the mystery religions of his day—to be “initiated.” As the one initiated was taught the secret signs, symbols, and passwords, so Paul has been initiated into this state of contentment in all circumstances of life.
A Christian is, of course, a disciple and the word means “learner” or “pupil.” Once Paul had sat at the feet of Gamaliel, now he is a pupil of Jesus Christ. All of us must learn this lowly position, like Mary who “sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.”