J.I. Packer says that the Puritans are the theological and devotional Redwoods of the western world (A Quest for Godliness, 11f). My own experience is that no one comes close to the skill they have in taking the razor-like scalpel of Scripture and lancing the boils of my corruption, cutting out the cancers of my God-belittling habits of mind, and amputating the limbs of my disobedience. They are simply in a class by themselves.
For example, see if you have ever had thoughts like these. And if not, know that a world of biblical wisdom awaits you.
In his book The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment)?
He gives five answers. And the best parts of the answers are the illustrations and explanations (which I have reworded only slightly).
From the Love of God
First, Christians enjoy contentment in the little they have because in what they have, they have the love of God to him.
In other words, this “little” is an expression of God’s love, and so it is much more than the littleness of the condition itself.
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“If a king were to send a piece of meat from his own table, it would be a great deal more pleasant to a poor subject of his kingdom than if he had 20 dishes some other way. If the king sends even a little thing and says, ‘Go and carry it to my dear subject as a token of my love,’ oh, how delightful would that be to him!”
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“When your husbands are at sea and send you a token of their love, it is worth more than 40 times what you already have in your houses.”
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“Every good thing the people of God enjoy, they enjoy it in God’s love.” It is “a token of God’s love … and this must be very sweet to them.”
Sanctified by God
Second, Christians enjoy contentment in the little they have because the little they have is sanctified to them for their good.
Others have what they have simply from God’s general providence. “But the saints have it in a special way.” The saint says, “I have it, and I have a sanctified use of it too; God goes along with what I have to draw my heart nearer to him and sanctify my heart to him.”
Christians receive everything from God’s hand as a gift, but it never comes by itself. It always comes with God’s accompanying purpose to sanctify us by it—and the amount of it is perfectly suited to his good purposes for us.
So the Christian says, “If I find my heart drawn nearer to God by what I enjoy, that is much more than if I had great wealth but no sanctifying influence with it.”
Free of Cost to Me
Third, Christians enjoy contentment in the little they have because this little is free of cost; he does not have to pay for it.
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“The difference between what a godly man has and a wicked man is this: A godly man is as a child in an inn. The inn-keeper has his child in the house and provides his diet, and lodging, and what is needful for him. But a stranger comes, and he has dinner and supper provided, and lodging, but the stranger must pay for everything.”
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“It may be that the child’s meal is simple and the stranger has a great feast, but there must come a reckoning for it.”
