“Take what you get and be happy with it.”
A life of defeatism, or the life of one who serves Christ?
There are some letters that I am led to write that I personally do not believe everyone should read, for they reveal truths that few are willing to hear, and the weaker brother or those who have little desire to contemplate the dark sayings of truth can be hindered more than edified when they are brought up.
“To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.” (Prov. 1:6)
All we have are blessings from the Almighty, but when was the last time you heard someone praise His name for cancer, for what is called the “untimely death” of a loved one, for a job loss or any other supposed tragedy that has entered their lives?
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
Philippians 4:11 is another way of saying, “Take whatever I bring into your life and do not complain about it.”
“As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” (Romans 8:36)
How many have you met who profess to serve the Lord who seem to live in a nearly constant state of defeatism, either always wanting and never receiving what they want, or never able to be content, and not just with materialistic items, but with Spiritual items as well? How many are always searching for more instead of resting in what they have been blessed with already.
If there is one thing I have found about praying for wisdom, it is that there is no contentment in it, but the truth of Ecclesiastes 1:18,
“For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.”
In the fact that once a parcel of wisdom has been given, with it arrives the knowledge that there is so much more to learn.
The happiness, the joy is never in contentment, for how can one be content when in the distance one can catch a glimpse of wisdom and knowledge yet to be attained? The life of the one who diligently seeks the face of God my friends is one that must understand the compassion and mercy of the One who says, “This is all you are going to get for now, be content in it.”
Anything this world offers that person is seen as refuse, temporary pursuits at best, things that need to be done in this life, tending the garden.
“Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.” (John 21:22)
When we can see the Lord Jesus Christ standing on the distant hilltop, it does not matter to us what’s in the valley, we will go through it to get to Him. And in a poor analogy, that is what the majority of our lives are, filling the spaces waiting for the next nugget of wisdom, fulfilling those tasks that “need” to be done, working by the sweat of our brow, tending the garden.
How often do you contemplate being in the presence of the fulness of joy? How often do you pray for wisdom, and that with the full knowledge, and expectation, that grief and sorrow will accompany it? How intense is your thirst and hunger for righteousness, and is it realized more each time you look out upon this world.
“Take what I give you and be content.”
“For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.” (Isaiah 50:7)
The only challenge left in life to the man of God is more of Christ, the world holds nothing for us, heaven itself rarely enters our minds.
“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” (1st Cor. 2:2)
And so, we take of the Spiritual things that He gives us, we give Him praise and thanksgivings for them, we contemplate those newly revealed truths, and then in His time, which is usually at the same moments the frustrations of this life come to a head, He reveals a little more to us, reassuring us of His promises.
Prepare yourselves accordingly if you truly desire to seek His face.
