There is a gain which many of
God’s dear children have not yet obtained, and a lesson some have not learned.
Paul had both found the gain and learned the lesson. May we follow him.

 

"Godliness with
contentment is great gain" (1 Tim. 6:6). "I have learned, in whatsoever
state I am,. . . to be content" (Phil. 4:11).

 

Many of the people of God
manifestly lack the peace, and rest, and satisfaction which there is for them
in this. While learning many and wonderful lessons from our Teacher, the Holy
Spirit, how slow we are apt to be to learn the great lesson of being content,
no matter what our state, or condition, or position in the world.

 

Paul had learned how to be
abased, or to abound; to be full or to be hungry—to abound and to suffer need. Everywhere
and in all things he was instructed in this (Phil. 4:12). Oh, that we
all might learn this lesson, on which so much depends for the formation of our
Christian character. If things do not go according to our ideas, if business or
household cares trouble us, and plans do not mature as we expected, how often
there is impatience and worry, then hasty or angry words. If to "get on in
the world" possesses the mind, there follows a struggle for those things
which prove unprofitable even when obtained, and the destruction of
spirituality. It is sad to see so many of God’s dear people struggling for
place, or favor, or money, or enjoyment in the scene in which the blessed
Saviour we confess was "a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief."

 

The children of Israel burned incense to the brazen serpent because God had put power in it for a little
while. Hezekiah broke it in pieces, calling it "Nehushtan"—meaning,
"a piece of brass." Such are the things of this world. They have
value but for a day; yet people struggle and fight for them. Should the
"heirs of God" do so?

 

Solomon drained to the dregs the
cup of this world’s enjoyments, honors, and glories. He made him great works,
built houses, planted vineyards, gardens, and trees; had great public works and
buildings; had servants, cattle, gold, silver, and the peculiar treasure of
kings; he proved his heart with mirth and pleasure; he gave his heart to wine,
while yet acquainting himself with wisdom as well as folly; so that he became
great and increased more than all who had preceded him in Jerusalem. In fact,
whatsoever his eyes desired he kept not from them and withheld not his heart
from any joy (Eccl. 2). And what was the result? Was he happy, content,
satisfied? No, it was all Nehushtan! Behold, all was vanity and vexation
of spirit, until he hated life. The child of God can find nothing in this world
to satisfy the soul. "For all that is in the world … is not of
the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away" (1 John 2:16,
17).

 

The Lord Jesus Christ alone is
sufficient to satisfy—to fill with contentment and joy—the souls of God’s
people.

 

A trusting saint said lately,
"I am going to try to live just from day to day trusting God. My income
has been cut down this year and I have been worried and full of care about
making ends meet, and tried to rush things along in my own impetuous way. I am
in the habit of pushing things along by myself when I want them done, and
accomplishing everything for myself. This year I could not succeed. I seemed to
be up against a stone wall. Now, when I have given up and left it with God, here
today comes just what I wanted and could not obtain for myself."

 

Why do we not know with the
apostle "that all things work together for good to them that
love God," and so let God work while we look up to Him and trust? (Rom.
8:28). Why are we not "content with such things as [we] have" when He
is with us and has said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee"?
(Heb. 13:5). "Having food and raiment let us be therewith content" (1
Tim. 6:8). And that does not mean all the delicacies out of season, nor the
latest freaks of fashion in clothing. We brought nothing into the world, and it
is certain that we can carry nothing out. Why then should we be burdened with a
lot of excess baggage which must be left behind?

 

Do we feel our wages are not
enough? (Luke 3:14) Let us do our work, not with eye service as men pleasers,
but conscientiously as in the sight of God, remembering we serve the Lord
Christ. Our employer must recognize merit where it is possessed, and
prayer to God will bring increase in salary, if needed, quicker than any
earthly means. "My God shall supply all your need" (Phil. 4:19).

 

Why should we worry about the
things we miss here, when "all things are yours, and ye are
Christ’s"? Here is the answer—we forget Christ. In the multitude of cares
and worries we heap up for ourselves, we forget Him. "He satisfieth the
longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness" (Psalm 107:9),
and no one and nothing else can. He not only satisfies us, but "abundantly
satisfies" (Psalm 36:8).

 

"Will the Lord indeed care
for me?" some one may ask. "It seems as though I am such a feeble,
stumbling child of His, that He might not care much about me." But yes He
does. He cares for every member of His body, even the weakest.

 

There is sweet assurance in Eph.
5:30:"We are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones."
Here is the closest, most intimate connection between the feeblest member of
the Body and its great and powerful Head. As long as you are His, the care of
you is His care; and right well will He do it if you will let Him have His way
to do it. It is when we take that care for ourselves and put Him aside that we
run into difficulty. What then shall we do? Simply rest in Christ.

 

God finds His rest and
satisfaction in His beloved Son. "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am
well pleased" (Matt. 3:17). Would that we all might say as to our
experience, "Christ is all" (Col. 3:11), and be careful for nothing,
thankful for anything, prayerful in everything.

 

"The Lord is at hand. Be
careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God,
which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus" (Phil. 4:5-7). May the Lord lead our hearts into the patient
waiting for His dear Son, for His name’s sake.

 

(From Help and Food, Vol.
23.)

 

FRAGMENT.
Satan is constantly trying to awaken or strengthen within us a high opinion of
ourselves, knowing that this will weaken our sense of dependence on Jesus,
making us unloving toward each other, and put us off our guard.