The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment: Lessons from Philippians 4:11 to Bring the Heart to Contentment [Updated and Annotated]

True Christian contentment is not taught by the wisdom of man but by the Holy Spirit, and few attain it.

The biblical way of contentment teaches the soul to deny itself into weakness, empty of itself or anything else, and so dissolve into unity with Him who is blessed and truly all-sufficient. Once made intimate with Him, our soul melts itself into all our Lord’s interests, making His interests our own. In this way, the all-sufficiency of the High God becomes our full sufficiency.

Even though this contentment is the inheritance of every saint in right and title, the possession and enjoyment of it depends upon our development of this inheritance. That development depends on a skill to be learned by experience and much practice, just as Paul says, I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content (Philippians 4:11).

Jeremiah Burroughs dedicated himself to learning this skill, and – digging for it as for rubies – found it. He has quarried this jewel out of the rock and skillfully cut it so that the innate rays of so glorious a grace might shine forth to others.

And here is this jewel, though presented in an imperfect setting. But when they are sought and purchased, these jewels are placed in a setting worthy of them; and the only setting for which this teaching is ordained is the precious tablets of human hearts.

Reader: Buy contentment, set it, and wear it in your heart, and it will, as Solomon says, be life unto thy soul.