The previous post in this series may be found here
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment.8

Christ’s School of Contentment (92-99)

 

1. What is the “one thing necessary”?

2. Give examples of things which are comfortable but not necessary.

3. What is not necessary?

4. How does Christ teach us the necessity of the “one thing”?

5. What does he mean by “the fear of eternity”?

6. How and why does a proper concern about the “one thing” leave you satisfied?

7. When are our hearts most troubled by every-thing?

8. What sort of persons does Burroughs describe as “most discontented”?

9. He gives an example of a man who is not troubled with the “meaner things” [this which are of less importance]: explain that example.

10. When is the heart most easily troubled?

11. What is the cure for such a heart?

12. Now consider: What takes the attention of your heart? Where is your treasure? If you could have just one thing, what would be it be? What is your true “one thing necessary”? What thing, if you lost it, would trouble you most?

13. What is the 4th thing taught in the school of contentment?

14. Read Genesis 3:22-24: What took place? Where were human beings created to live? Where do we now live?

15. Read Ecclesiastes 1:1-11: What is the nature the place in which we find ourselves in this life?

16. Read Galatians 1:4: What does Paul call our present age?

17. Read 1 Peter 1:1-2: How does Peter describe Christians?

18. Read Hebrews 11:8-16. How are the faithful believers described? In what do they hope?

19. Burroughs gives the example of hardships which befall a traveler. Things have become much better for travelers of late, so you will have pretend a bit to follow his argument. What sort of insults should a traveler expect? What does the traveler overlook such hardships?

20. How are all human beings travelers?

21. What sort of thinking permits a traveler to overlook troubles?

22. How does that thinking pertain to our daily life when we are living at home?

23. Middle of page 95: What sort of thinking must we have when it comes to seeking contentment?

24. Middle of page 95: When you see another person with desireable piece of property, how ought one to think?

25. Bottom of page 95: What sort of thinking is madness?

26. How does Paul describe the Christian in 2 Timothy 2:3. How does Burroughs describe how such a one should think and live? Do you?

27. Bottom of page 96: What sort of thinking is necessary to be content? Why do you think such thoughts are hard for you? Who tells you that you should expect ease and comfort which the exile, the traveler, the pilgrim, the soldier should not expect? What detracts you from such thinking? What helps you to such thinking?

28. How are we supposed to understand the benefits of the creature (all things which God has created?)

29. Burroughs gives an exmaple of how a carnal heart and a Christian should each differently consider the value of wealth? Compare and contrast.

30. Middle page 98: How does God get glory from his creatures?

31. What do you have? How do you use it to give God glory?

32. Do you think that if you looked upon all that you have as opportunities for giving God glory, that it would affect your contentment?

33. Imagine someone who owned a beautiful car and had a dreadful disease. Would such a person be content with their car if they were trying to use it to cure their disease?