i n a ll t hings c ontent timeless wisdom for today’s christians: an introduction to the puritans
TRANSCRIPT
IN ALL THINGS CONTENTTimeless Wisdom for Today’s Christians:
An Introduction to the Puritans
THOMAS WATSON“THE ART OF DIVINE CONTENTMENT” Born 1620 (year the Pilgrims
landed) Married and had 7 children,
4 of whom died as children Imprisoned at one point
over faith Then also barred from
preaching in 1662 (Act of Uniformity)
Preached in barns, etc. thereafter
Died in private prayer http://www.ccel.org/ccel/
watson/contentment.html
JEREMIAH BURROUGHS“THE RARE JEWEL OF CHRISTIAN CONTENTMENT”
1600-1646 Minister Delegate at Westminster
Assembly Independent, peacemaker Stood against Book of
Sports, etc. Punished for that Died after fall from horse
Though some say due to his grief over church struggles
http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/contentment.html
TEXT FOR BOTH BOOKS
Philippians 4:11 I have learned, in
whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
BASICS OF CONTENTMENT
BASICS OF CONTENTMENT
Burroughs’ definition: “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”
Clearly builds on the doctrine of providence that we covered last week
It prefers the God of peace to the peace of God
BASICS OF CONTENTMENT
God is content in himself, so should we be, too
“A gracious spirit is a contented spirit.” (Watson)
It is LEARNED Devils in heaven
lacked it In paradise, Adam
and Eve did And even Mordecai,
because of Haman
BASICS OF CONTENTMENT
It is TRUST in God’s providence “[Excessive] care
when it is …either distrustful or distracting, is very dishonorable to God; it takes away his providence, as if he sat in heaven and minded not what became of things here below” (Watson)
BASICS OF CONTENTMENT
It is WORSHIP “In active obedience
we worship God by doing what pleases God, but by passive obedience we do as well worship God by being pleased with what God does” (Burroughs)
BASICS OF CONTENTMENT It is achieved in the
HERE AND NOW It is achieved by
performing our work in our circumstance, rather than trying to compensate for the lacks in our circumstances
Burroughs: “A carnal heart thinks, I must have my wants made up or else it is impossible that I should be content. But a gracious heart says, ‘What is the duty of the circumstances God has put me into?’”
BASICS OF CONTENTMENT
It is found INSIDE, not out in the world somewhere
Watson: “the way to be comfortable, is not by having our barns filled, but our minds quiet.”
Burroughs: “It is not the water without the ship, but the water that gets within the leak, which drowns it; it is not outward affliction that can make the life of a Christian sad; a contented mind would sail above these waters, -- but when there’s a leak of discontent open, and trouble gets in the heart, then it is disquieted and sinks.
ROOTS OF DISCONTENTOur greatest want is contentment. The following are lower wants which we may use to rationalize our discontent
A LITTLE CONTEXT
Remember, for the Puritans there was much struggle and persecution Not only against the “world” but against nominal
Christians who resented their wholehearted devotion to Christ
And today: We face an even more secular world that should
be distasteful to true Christians But still many nominal Christians who flow with
the secular stream But maybe many other Christians seeking to
follow Christ but struggle to find their bearings in all of this We may seek secular values more than we might think
MODERN CULTURAL ROOTS OF DISCONTENT Wrong goals
Money Material gains Prestige Self-esteem Health (to an extreme) Appearance
Wrong strategies God exists to help me
toward MY goals Rather than I live to serve
Him Being discontent, distract
oneself Addiction to entertainment
THE BASIC PROBLEM
Watson: “There is no sin, but labours either to hide itself under some mask; or, if it cannot be concealed, then to vindicate itself by some apology”
Discontent has very sophisticated apologies…
“Discontent is a sin” Therefore, we need to expose our excuses for
being discontent
ROOTS OF DISCONTENT
Loss of estate Lam. 3: 24 “The Lord
is my portion” 1 Thess 5:18: “In
everything give thanks.”
We confuse money and blessing
Watson: “Outward comforts often quench inward heat.”
Augustine: “Earthly riches are full of poverty”
Ambrose: “Even poverty itself is riches to holy men”
Loss of friends Prov. 18:24: “There
is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
ROOTS OF DISCONTENT
We don’t get the respect of others Watson: “It is better
that God approve, than man applaud.”
We easily assume approval follows doing right
We WILL meet disapproval if we speak truth
We want comfort Yet we should anticipate
suffering for truth “Your sufferings are not
so great as your sins” (Watson)
Compare the martyrs And Muslims today!
“What should we be content to suffer, to make the truth victorious” (Watson)
By seeking our comfort, we compromise the Gospel!
ROOTS OF DISCONTENT
Others might include Feeling we have been treated unfairly We are in bad relationships We aren’t as gifted as others
Grace, not gifts, is what God values Discouragement with the times
Though times are tough, is God not still in charge? Our sins
…but they are not stronger than God’s mercy
DIAGNOSING DISCONTENT We complain (both to ourselves and to others)
A contented spirit is silent We lack joy
Discontent is marked by anger and grief Can be a form of pride and ingratitude Watson: “A gracious heart spies out mercy in every
condition.” Replace with a thankful heart
We’ll sin to ease troubles Will argue with others Cheat on finances Justify indulgences because we have a bad day
We overreact to adversity, rather than see God’s hand in it Recall last week how God can use adversity
APPLYING WHAT WE’VE LEARNED
TAKING ACTION
How to learn contentment Learn self-denial
Watson: “A man who is little in his own eyes will account every affliction as little, and every mercy as great”
Consider the vanity of those without Christ Earthly pleasures we
seek don’t please anyway!
Be a pilgrim in this world (be heavenly minded)
Motives to contentment It cures care Prevents sin
Watson: “Our murmuring is the devil’s music”
Accepts God’s answer to our prayer that his will be done
We have Christ, all that we need
It is victory over ourselves
TAKING ACTION
Remember our trouble here is all the hell we shall have
Consider the evils of discontent Freely submit to taking pleasure in God’s
disposal What are YOUR excuses for discontent? What is one thing you can change in your
thinking to be more content? What is one thing you can change in your
behavior to be more content? NEXT WEEK: The Puritans on marriage and
family