5 More Reasons to Seek Contentment (Ch 7)

- Continued from “5 Reasons to Seek Contentment” -

Five more reasons from Jeremiah Burroughs on why contentment in God is a thing to be treasured. Oh, that I could get these deep down in my soul!

6. Contentment brings many comforts.
It frees you from dependence on the whims of others. It also acts as a light in any storm. A sailor on a ship may be pleased with great stores of food, but he still needs a lantern to light the way in storms. The discontented may seem pleased when life runs smoothly, but they are desperate in times of trouble. Let contentment in God serve as a light in whatever storms may come.

7. Contentment requires no ownership.
Once I get this (then this…), I’ll be content. Why not just be content now? Contentment isn’t found in possessing, but in God. Happiness in getting one thing doesn’t  transfer to happiness across the board, but contentment does cover all situations. Things may make you wealthy, but contentment can make you better. God is more honored by worshipers in affliction than by angels with no trials.

8. When you’re content, God helps you enjoy what you already have.
“We may have the thing and yet not enjoy it unless God comes in with his blessing. Now whatever you have, you enjoy it; many men have possessions and do not enjoy them.” God can fashion your heart to be suited to your circumstances with joy.

9. God can give you the blessing of the thing, with or without the thing itself.
He provides the same comfort for what you are contented to be without. If you lack what others have, but are content anyway, God can provide the blessing to you of all they have, whether or not you have it. With contentment, you have all kinds of riches.

10.  Being content in God is all-sufficient.
God himself is self-sufficient. If all the creatures in the world were annihilated, God would remain the same blessed God that he is now. Just so, if all in your world is taken away, yet you still have God as your portion, you can be as content then as you are now.

The list of these ten reasons is quite convincing: being content in God is a thing of excellence.

Does it seem too good to be true? Such are God’s promises!