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The Rare Jewel of Contentment
This is not an uncommon dream. One thing that I have noticed, though, in the old writings is that they did not separate the spiritual from the secular the way our generation does. For instance, it would have been thought irreverent to put scripture on a math book to make it holy. The application of math became a holy duty when done neatly, accurately and for the glory of God. Duty was given a much higher standing that it does today. It was taught that one of the first principles of holiness was to trust that our days were given to us in exact portion from the hand of the Lord. That our Lord has placed us here,in this home with this husband and these children, and here will we glorify him in our daily duties.
Resting in the sovereignty of God as our day unfolds is truly a rare grace called ‘contentment.' We all know the scripture where Paul says that he had ‘learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content’ Phil.4:11. This scripture is most commonly used when teaching on money, or the lack thereof. Think on that scripture for a moment, in light of our topic. If Paul’s circumstances provided him money, in that he was content. If his circumstances lacked money, he still was content. He trusted the hand of God in his life. It was something he had to learn, not something that came naturally.
When our souls have learned their lessons in contentment, taking pleasure in God’s disposal of what He sends our way, our eyes will look upward and not at the instrument or the means by which it comes. The crosses of the present moment always bring their own special grace and consequent comfort with them; we see the hand of God in them when it is laid upon us.
There are so many temptations each day to grumble and complain against the hand of God. We do not see God’s sovereignty in the child who will not cease from his crying. Our nerves are spent, we are tired and we feel anger rising up against this child as he refuses to fit into our plan for the day. Look up, tired maiden of the Lord, can you see His hand? Can you see that He is ultimately sovereign, that He is God and no power of circumstance is above or out of His ultimate control? He has foreordained that whatsoever comes to pass He will work for our good and His glory. (Eph 1:11,Romans 8:28). Can you see His hand in the never-ending piles of laundry? The unending 'WHY' questions from your 2 and 3 year olds? Do you see the cross being worked in your life as you submit to these duties out of obedience? Can you see the fruit of self-control being manifested from the life of Christ within you as you die to your own selfish desires to have an easy life that goes just as YOU planned? There is patience being learned and displayed as you look upward towards the Lord of your days, as your child spills his drink for the third time in 10 minutes? There are lessons to be learned, minute by minute, hour by hour in each and every trial.
An old puritan saying is that ‘trials do not make us what we are but that they expose who we really are.' God tested the Israelites that they might see what was in their hearts.
Every inconvenience and affliction of our days will be used for our good in changing us into the image of Christ if we constantly remember that the Lord’s loving eyes are upon us and that He only has our good in mind. Offer everything up to Him. Turn to Him, trusting that He has ordered your day and that in His wisdom He knows the exact portion to serve you. (Psalm 16:5)
Georgene
Copyright 1998. Georgene Girouard. You may reproduce this article in it's entirety.
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