Contentment is an “acquired taste.” This certainly seems true as we observe babies and infants: upon being fed, we observe that they are “content,” at least for a while, until they become discontent. But whether for infant or adult, if I understand Paul, contentment is not a natural or innate attribute: for both it is learned, a process of time and acceptance.
This morning I was aided by a thought gleaned from Charles Spurgeon. In his, Morning by Morning, he wrote of the Christian faith as a “life of faith” and a “walk of faith.” For him, and I think he’s right, these two are one, even as the foundation and the superstructure of an edifice are one. This analogy, which he employed, views the “life of faith” as foundational: believing that God is gracious, like the Prodigal Father, awaiting the profligate, second son’s return. God’s gracious love and forgiveness are foundational, upon which the “walk” is built. According to Spurgeon, however, “[of] what service is the mere foundation of a building to [one] in the day of tempest?”[1] Such a person desires warmth and security, when the onslaught comes.
Essentially, Spurgeon’s analogy is comparable to the classical distinction between “justification” and “sanctification,” which nears the heart of my last blog regarding “Contentment.”
In that blog you might recall that I posed the question: How did Paul learn to be content, whatever the circumstance? In the context of Philippians 4, I think his answer is: by thankful prayer and a thought-life centered upon whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise.[2] With regard to Spurgeon, Paul’s encouragement is Spurgeon’s superstructure, or, in the older language, it is sanctification.
Now this superstructure is of interest to me, because Paul’s word for contentment (i.e. “I learned to be content in whatever circumstances”[3]) is the word, αὐτάρκης, which consists of two words: the word for “self” and the word for “help.” Thus, Paul learned “self-help” or to be “self-sufficient”; and yet, this “self-help” came as he learned that he could do all things through Him who strengthened him.[4]
My point in these ramblings is this: the Christian faith and life are difficult, because they consist of a tension, whereby faith and life are to be one. The line between justification and sanctification melds together, so that they are distinct but inseparable – whereas Spurgeon’s analogy (like all analogies?) breaks down: we clearly recognize the difference between the foundation of a home and the house itself.
If you are as I am, I need to learn to be content: to be self-sufficient by a thankful, praying heart and by a mind focused upon whatever is true, honorable, etc., both exhibiting God’s grace.
Hopefully,
Stan
[1] Charles H. Spurgeon, Morning by Morning ( Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1998), p.263.
[2] Philippians 4:8.
[3] Philippians 4:11.
[4] Philippians 4:13.
