The College of Contentment

The other day, I was complaining to Ken about the possibility of a Trump presidency. When I was done, I thought a few minutes and told him, "Next time I complain about this would you remind me that this isn't our home and that we're strangers and pilgrims just passing through." In a round about way, he let me know that he'd let me clearly know whenever I complained about anything!

A few mornings later in our devotional we read this in Morning Evening by Charles Spurgeon ~

I have learned whatever state I am in,

 therewith to be content.

Philippians 4:11

These words show us that contentment is not a natural propensity of man. "Ill weeds grow apace." Covetousness, discontent, and murmuring are as natural to man as thorns are to the soil. We need not sow thistles and brambles; they come up naturally enough, because they are indigenous to earth: and so, we need not teach men to complain; they complain fast enough without any education. But the precious things of the earth must be cultivated. 

If we would have wheat, we must plough and sow; if we want flowers, there must be the garden, and all the gardener's care. Now, contentment is one of the flowers of heaven, and if we would have it, it must be cultivated; it will not grow in us by nature; it is the new nature alone that can produce it, and even then we must be specially careful and watchful that we maintain and cultivate the grace which God has sown in us. 

Paul says, "I have learned . . . to be content;" as much as to say, he did not know how at one time. It cost him some pains to attain to the mystery of that great truth. No doubt he sometimes thought he had learned, and then broke down. And when at last he had attained unto it, and could say, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content," he was an old, grey-headed man, upon the borders of the grave-a poor prisoner shut up in Nero's dungeon at Rome. 

We might well be willing to endure Paul's infirmities, and share the cold dungeon with him, if we too might by any means attain unto his good degree. Do not indulge the notion that you can be contented with learning, or learn without discipline. It is not a power that may be exercised naturally, but a science to be acquired gradually. We know this from experience. Brother, hush that murmur, natural though it be, and continue a diligent pupil in the College of Content.

God hates grumbling and complaining. Look at what He did to the Israelites when they grumbled and complained. This leads to being unthankful which is on the path to destruction and a reprobate mind according to Romans 1. Let us not be a people of grumbling and complaining but people who keep our eyes on things above and not on things of this earth; for it is all passing away, but God's Word abides forever. 

Do ALL things without grumbling or disputing.

Philippians 2:14 

***Bottom line, even if Trump becomes our President, don't lose hope for our hope isn't in our President. It is in Jesus Christ who is the Savior of the world!