Contentment

In our Sunday evening meetings we have been moving, rather slowly, through the Epistle to the Hebrews. Last evening marked our 46th visit to the letter and we considered the first six verses of chapter thirteen.

In the fifth verse after prohibiting covetousness the Author of Scripture exhorts the readers to be content. The text reads "an be content with such things as ye have:" In Darby's translation the phrase is rendered "be satisfied with your present circumstances." I like that treatment of the language. It brings the student of Scripture face to face with the reality that God calls him to contentment. The believer is to be marked by a satisfaction that is not altered by changing situations nor by personal possessions.

Jeremiah Burroughs described Christians contentment n the following manner. "Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition."

Paul Ellingworth, in his commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews, offers this insightful gem. "One of the results of persecution has been the loss of property (10:34). In these circumstances, the Christian response is not to grasp all the more eagerly at material wealth, but to rely quietly on God's provision, even in the face of human opposition."

A. W. Tozer was rather concise in writing "The man who has God for His treasure has all things in One."

It appears to me that contentment is a discipline that is quite dependent upon a proper under
standing of the character of our God who alone is the Satisfier of the soul.