Man wants but little; that little not long; but unbelief multiplies our wants and magnifies our discontent. God rains down manna; the people arc delighted with it, but are not content to trust God for the morrow's supply; they gather more than would serve for one day; what was the consequence? "It bred worms and stank." Exod. 16:20. Here distrust and unbelief prevailed, and abundance occasioned discontent. O ye rich and great, is it not so with you?
And thou, O my soul, thy pittance is more than Paul here requires. Art thou content? No riches without Christ and the riches of his grace can bring content to the mind. But when Christ vouchsafes to fulfil that precious word, Rev. 2:17, "I will give to eat of the hidden manna," then we shall have true contentment, though we have no more coats than backs, and but just food enough to satisfy our hunger; for faith supplies all: it brings the Supplier of all into our hearts: we feed upon him by faith. The supply of our wants does not fix content in the mind: most of them are not real, but imaginary: as wants increase so does discontent:
True content arises from the mind being brought to our state. Have we little or much? The Lord gave it: he sees best to give no more. When his will is the law, the mind is content.
See Paul's reasons for content. Look back to your birth: "we brought nothing into the world;" if we have nothing, we have all we were born with. Look forward to your death: "it is certain we can carry nothing out of it." Think of your naked birth and naked death; all we possess we shall soon leave behind. Would you be rich? Paul says, this is to "fall into temptation and a snare) and into many foolish and hurt. Al1 lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition; for the love of money is the root of all evil." O for Agur's prayer: "give me not riches." Prov. 30:8.
What is the greatest gain? "Godliness with contentment:" having Christ for your food, and his righteousness your raiment, this brings true content of mind. One who had nothing but bread and water, cried out in an ecstasy, "What, all this and Christ too!" Learn more to live by faith on the Son of God: all God's promises are yours in him: this one is enough to silence murmurings and quell the risings of discontent: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Heb. 13:5.
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