Study Guide Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment (page keyed to Banner of Truth edition)
11 Tuesday Jun 2019
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Study Guide: The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment 10.6
26 Saturday Aug 2017
Posted in Jeremiah Burroughs, Service, Study Guide, Uncategorized
The previous post in this series is here
Contentment Makes us Fit for Service
In any case, the point is that Jeremiah hadn’t seen anything yet. The troubles he was having in Anatoth were nothing compared to the troubles he would later have in Jerusalem, Babylon, Egypt. Things were bad not the worst. If Jeremiah thought he had trouble today, he needed to wait until tomorrow. Anyone who gets discouraged, downtrodden, and defeated over little things will never fulfill his divine calling. If even little disappointments tempt Jeremiah to leave his calling, how will he ever cope with real persecution? God had great things in store for Jeremiah. But he would never achieve them unless he was willing to persevere in the little things. He had to be willing to race with men before he could compete with horses.
The same is true for every Christian. If you complain about the simple things God has already asked you to do, then you lack the spiritual strength to do what he wants you to do next. If your troubles keep you from doing the Lord’s work now, you will never have the strength to do it later. If you want to do some great things for God, then you must begin by doing the little things for God. And the only way to do little things for God is to them in the strength of the Holy Spirit.
Philip Graham Ryken, Jeremiah and Lamentations: From Sorrow to Hope, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, ©2001), 222.
1 What is the nature of Christian service? What do you think it means to serve God? Is it only in a church? Is it only “religious” or “spiritual”? Give examples of those who serve God.
2 Read Genesis 2:15-17: what the service there? Did our first parents stay content in their service? Gen. 3
3 How are we supposed to approach all of our life’s work? Col. 3:23-24
4 Consider the stories of Moses and David: What did God do with these men before he put them into service?
5 What does God look for in service? 1 Sam. 15:17-23.
6 Read Jonah: How did contentment (or lack thereof) affect his service?
7 If contentment is a willing submission to God’s will (see full definition page 40), then how do you think service for God would be affected by contentment or lack thereof. Consider the examples of Jeremiah, Hosea, Paul.
8 Read Luke 10:1-12 How does Jesus send out the 72? v. 3. What are they to receive? v. 7. How does this relate to contentment?
9 Why might we be tempted to not be content with service to God? How have his servants often lived? Consider the lives of missionaries, martyrs. Consider how much Christian live for Christ today. (Look persecution.org) Consider what it might cost you to be a more devoted servant Christ? How might you be tempted to be discontent with such service?
10 In Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, Apollyon stops Christian on the way and seeks to dissuade him from continuing on pilgrimage:
Consider again, when thou art in cool blood, what thou art like to meet with in the way that thou goest. Thou knowest that for the most part his servants come to an ill end, because they are transgressors against me and my ways. How many of them have been put to shameful deaths! And besides, thou countest his service better than mine; whereas he never yet came from the place where he is, to deliver any that served him out of their enemies’ hands: but as for me, how many times, as all the world very well knows, have I delivered, either by power or fraud, those that have faithfully served me, from him and his, though taken by them! And so will I deliver thee.
John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress: From This World to That Which Is to Come
11 How does one give up comforts to serve God — if the loss to serve God is so great? How can one give up such things and still be content in the midst of such loss? Read Philippians 4 and consider what Paul does with his present benefits and comforts; how does he count them? With what does he replace them? How does that knowledge create a basis for contentment?
12 Could one perform true service to God and not be content with God’s provision? Can grudging service be loving service?
CXV. Will ye also go away? Chap. 6:67–69
1 When any turn from Zion’s way,
(Alas! what numbers do!)
Methinks I hear my Saviour say,
“Wilt thou forsake me too?”
2 Ah, Lord! with such a heart as mine,
Unless thou hold me fast,
I feel I must, I shall decline,
And prove like them at last.
3 Yet thou alone hast pow’r, I know,
To save a wretch like me;
To whom, or whither, could I go,
If I should turn from thee?
4 Beyond a doubt I rest assur’d
Thou art the Christ of God,
Who hast eternal life secur’d
By promise and by blood.
5 The help of men and angels join’d
Could never reach my case;
Nor can I hope relief to find,
But in thy boundless grace.
6 No voice but thine can give me rest,
And bid my fears depart;
No love but thine can make me bless’d,
And satisfy my heart.
7 What anguish has that question stirr’d,
If I will also go?
Yet, Lord, relying on thy word,
I humbly answer, No.
John Newton and Richard Cecil, The Works of John Newton, vol. 3 (London: Hamilton, Adams & Co., 1824), 434
Study Guide: Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment 10.5
15 Tuesday Aug 2017
Posted in Jeremiah Burroughs, Study Guide, Uncategorized
Contentment Fits us for Mercy
1 What relationship does Burroughs draw from receiving mercy from God and contentment?
2 Burroughs makes multiple analogies help illustrate God’s actions. Recount them and explain how they apply.
3 When we are discontent, what must we believe about God’s power? Goodness? Wisdom? Strength?
4 When we are discontent, are we seeking what God has provided for us, or what we have determined we deserve?
5 Read James 1:2-4. What does God here intend for those who fall into trials?
6 Read Romans 5:1-5. What does God intend for those who fall into trials?
7 Read 2 Corinthians 1:8-9. What does God intend for those fall into trials?
8 When we are discontent in a trial, what do we seek?
9 Look again at Burroughs’ definition of contentment?
10 Contentment is a willingness to receive what God has to give us.
11 All temptation preys upon discontentment: We are in a circumstance. We face X, but we desire Y. We are not content with what we have at present. Temptation comes along and offers to us Y, at the cost of disobeying God. The temptation takes place in the distance between what we have and what we want.
You Current Reality
You What you desire
You may become angry, covetous, deceitful, slanderous, envying, lustful, stealing, et cetera to get what you want. At one level, discontentment is a desire to sin and a desire to not be satisfied with what God has provided.
This relates to idoltary as follows:
An idol is a thing which use to get what we want. Israel prayed to Baal because they thought Baal could make them rich, et cetera. When we throw a fit and demand that God give us what we want because we want it, we are treating God as a servant, as an idol. In such a circumstance, what can God give to us?
This is how idolatry functioned in Old Testament. The fundamental problem with the Israelites in the Old Testament was that they reserved for themselves the prerogative to determine what they needed and when they needed it, instead of trusting the Lord. The self-oriented hearts of the Israelites then looked to the world (the neighbors in their midst) and followed their lead in blowing to gods that were not God in order to satisfy the lusts of their self-exalting hearts. When this is comprehended, it portrays the terrible irony of Israelite false worship. When the Israelites followed the lead of their neighbors and bowed before blocks of wood, that act of false worship underlined their desire for autonomy and, in an ironic way, was an exultation of themselves even more than of the idol. The idol itself was incidental; (in our world it could be a pornographic picture, a spouse as the particular object of codependency, or an overprotective mother’s controlling fear attached specifically to her children) the self-exalting heart was the problems, which remains the problem today.
The main problem sinful people have is not idols of the heart per se. The main problem certainly involves idols and is rooted in the heart, but the idols are manifestations of the deeper problem. The heart problems is self-exultation, and idols are two or three steps removed. A self-exalting heart that grasps after autonomy is the Grand Unifying Theory (GUT) that unites all idols. Even though idols change from culture to culture and from individual to individual within a culture, the fundamental problem of humanity has not changed since Genesis 3: sinful people want – more than anything in the whole world – to be God.
Heath Lambert, The Biblical Counseling Movement After Adams (Wheaton: Crossway, 2012), 148. Considering this: how can one who is insistent upon God bowing to his will expect anything from God.
12 Read Psalm 131 and explain how the psalmist is at peace. How does this relate to contentment and temptation?
When the godly are burdened and afflicted that way and the wicked are hardened and go unpunished and God sits in wait for them as if the affairs of this world were of no concern to him, what can be said but that he appears to be doing one thing but is doing another and does not wish to reveal that he is the Judge until he knows the time is right? Now, if we want to know why, we will be left in confusion. Consequently, we must conclude that God’s judgments are secret and astonishing and surpass human understanding and that our minds fail us, but that we must revere God’s secrets, which are not known to us even as we confess that he is just despite the fact we find what he does strange. Moreover,
John Calvin. Sermons on Job, Volume 2: Chapters 15-31 (Kindle Locations 7559-7564). The Banner of Truth Trust.
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, Study Guide, 10.4
12 Saturday Aug 2017
Posted in Jeremiah Burroughs, Study Guide, Uncategorized
4 There is beauty in contentment.
A. What is the relationship which Burroughs implies between “beauty” and “glory?” What sort of glory is displayed in contentment — whose beauty shines in contentment?
B. What is the point of Burroughs quoting a pagan philosopher at the beginning of this section?
C. The furnace of Daniel 3: Read and recount the story. What did the contentment of these three do to the king? Dan. 3:28. Whose beauty was displayed — what did the king see?
D. Read Acts 16:16-40: recount the story. Why would Paul & Silas be tempted to despair and discontentment? How did they respond to trial? v. 25. See Acts 5:41. How is God shown to be beautiful in this event? How do we know that God’s glory was displayed and found beautiful? Acts 16:30.
E. What is the effect upon as we see God’s beauty? 2 Cor. 3:18.
Some quotations about spiritual beauty:
The beauty of a Christian is borrowed:
Ans. It comes from without. It is borrowed beauty, as you have it, Ezek. 16:1, 2. By nature we lie in our blood. There must be a beauty put upon us. We are fair with the beauty that we have out of Christ’s wardrobe. The church shines in the beams of Christ’s righteousness; she is not born thus fair, but new-born fairer. The church of Christ is all glorious, but it is within, not seen of the world, Ps. 45:13. She hath a life, but it is a hidden life, ‘our glory and our life is hidden in Christ,’ Col. 3:3. It is hid sometimes from the church itself, who sees only her deformity and not her beauty, her death but not her life, because her ‘life is hid.’ Here is a mystery of religion, The church is never more fair than when she judgeth herself to be most deformed; never more happy than when she judgeth herself to be miserable: never more strong than when she feels herself to be weak; never more righteous than when she feels herself to be most burdened with the guilt of her own sins, because the sense of one contrary forceth to another. The sense of ill forceth us to the fountain of good, to have supply thence. ‘When I am weak, then am I strong,’ saith Paul, 2 Cor. 12:10. Grace and strength is perfect in weakness.
Richard Sibbes, The Complete Works of Richard Sibbes, ed. Alexander Balloch Grosart, vol. 2 (Edinburgh; London; Dublin: James Nichol; James Nisbet And Co.; W. Robertson, 1862), 135.
The beauty of holiness:
Tenthly, Consider, that of all things, holiness will render you most beautiful and amiable. As holiness is the beauty of God,1 and the beauty of angels, so it is the beauty and glory of a Christian too. Holiness is a Christian’s greatest honour and ornament: Ps. 93:5, ‘Holiness becometh thine house’—that is, thy church—‘O Lord, for ever.’ There is no garment that suits the church, that becomes the church, like the garment of holiness. It is sanctity that is the church’s excellency and glory; it is purity that is the church’s ornament and beauty. Holiness is a beauty that beautifies the church; it is the gracefulness and comeliness of the church. Holiness is so beautiful a thing that it puts a beauty on all things else. As holiness is the greatest ornament of the church triumphant, so it is the greatest ornament of the church militant, Eph. 5:26, 27. The redness of the rose, the whiteness of the lily, and all the beauties of sun, moon, and stars, are but deformities to that beauty that holiness puts upon us. If all natural and artificial beauty were contracted into one beauty, yet it would be but an obscure and an unlovely beauty to that beauty that holiness puts upon us: Ps. 29:2, ‘Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness:’ Ps. 96:9, ‘O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness:’ Ps. 110:3, ‘Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauty of holiness.’ You see beauty and holiness is by God himself still linked together; and those whom God hath so closely joined together, no man may put asunder. The scripture last cited doth not only speak out holiness to be a beautiful thing, but it speaks out many beauties to be in holiness. Those Christians that are volunteers in the beauties of holiness, they shall be very beautiful and shining through holiness.
Thomas Brooks, The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks, ed. Alexander Balloch Grosart, vol. 4 (Edinburgh; London; Dublin: James Nichol; James Nisbet and Co.; G. Herbert, 1867), 171.
Contentment makes one beautiful and fit for service (which is the same point made by Burroughs):
O then, how excellent is contentment, which doth prepare, and as it were, string the heart for duty? Indeed contentment doth not only make our duties lively and agile, but acceptable. It is this that puts beauty and worth into them; for contentment settles the soul. Now, as it is with milk, when it is always stirring, you can make nothing of it, but let it settle a while, and then it turns to cream: when the heart is over-much stirred with disquiet and discontent, you can make nothing of those duties. How thin, how fleeting and jejune are they! But when the heart is once settled by holy contentment, now there is some worth in our duties, now they turn to cream.
Thomas Watson, The Select Works of the Rev. Thomas Watson, Comprising His Celebrated Body of Divinity, in a Series of Lectures on the Shorter Catechism, and Various Sermons and Treatises (New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1855), 703.
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, Study Guide 10.3
04 Friday Aug 2017
Posted in Jeremiah Burroughs, Study Guide, Uncategorized
Tags
2 Corinthians 12, Contentment, Jeremiah Burroughs, Study Guide, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
The previous post in this series may be found here
Strength in the Christian, and pointedly strength in contentment, proceeds by paradox. We are weak when it comes to contentment and we cannot force ourselves into a true godly contentment by any force of will. To be strong in contentment we “boast” in our weakness and be receptive to the strength of God which is super-abundant grace for contentment.
Paul learned this (remember that contentment is a skill which is learned) in weakness forced upon him by God.
A Read 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
1 What has the unnamed man (Paul) received? vv. 1-2
2 Why do you suppose Paul refers to himself in third person?
3 Of what will Paul boast? v. 5 (see 2 Cor. 11:30-33).
4 What did God do with Paul? v. 7
The identity of the thorn has been the subject of a great many speculations. Paul does not say what it is. What we do know is that it was a matter of extraordinary pain and suffering for him.
We might miss this, because “thorn” sounds like something which would only scratch or annoy us. But,
The word translated “thorn” (skolops) occurs only here in the New Testament. It refers to something pointed such as a stake for impaling, a medical instrument, or a thorn. “Stake” would be a better translation, though “thorn” has dominated English renderings of the word. The metaphor carries “the notion of something sharp and painful which sticks deeply in the flesh and in the will of God defies extracting.
David E. Garland, 2 Corinthians, vol. 29, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 519, fns. omitted.
5 Why does God do this? v. 7
6 What does Paul do? v. 8
7 How does God answer Paul’s prayer? v. 9
8 What is the answer? v. 9
9 Does God provide Paul help? In what way? v. 10
11 How does this teach Paul contentment?
Human beings are by nature deficient, dependent creatures. We were created dependent upon God for existence, strength, knowledge, holiness. We cannot cause ourselves to even exist. We need food and clothing. (1 Tim. 6:6-8). We need the help of others. We need counsel from God. The first temptation was temptation to be autonomous: it was the illusion that we could live independent of God. (Gen. 3:5). The result of that foolish act has been insanity. (Rom. 1:18-31). The idea that we could live independently of God has resulted in our discontentment. Therefore, we must be brought to see that we cannot live without Him: we must know how weak we are in fact, so that we will willingly receive the strength of God. 2 Cor. 1:8-9.
XXXVI. Prayer answered by Crosses
1 I ask’d the Lord, that I might grow
In faith, and love, and ev’ry grace,
Might more of his salvation know,
And seek more earnestly his face.
2 ’Twas he who taught me thus to pray,
And he, I trust has answer’d pray’r;
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair.
3 I hop’d that in some favour’d hour,
At once he’d answer my request:
And by his love’s constraining pow’r,
Subdue my sins, and give me rest.
4 Instead of this, he made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart;
And let the angry pow’rs of hell
Assault my soul in ev’ry part.
5 Yea more, with his own hand he seem’d
Intent to aggravate my woe;
Cross’d all the fair designs I schem’d,
Blasted my gourds, and laid me low.
6 Lord, why is this, I trembling cry’d,
Wilt thou pursue thy worm to death?
“’Tis in this way,” the Lord reply’d,
I answer pray’r for grace and faith.
7 These inward trials I employ,
From self and pride to set thee free;
And break thy schemes of earthly joy,
That thou mayst seek thy all in me.”
John Newton and Richard Cecil, The Works of John Newton, vol. 3 (London: Hamilton, Adams & Co., 1824), 607–608.
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, Study Guide 10.2
02 Wednesday Aug 2017
Posted in Jeremiah Burroughs, Study Guide, Uncategorized
This section replaces a previous version of this study guide found here
There is a Great Deal of Grace in Contentment:
The second point made by Burroughs has to do with the “grace” which is poured out in contentment.
To understand this argument, it will be necessary to understand that the Puritians routinely used the word “grace” in a different manner than it is typically used by contemporary Christians. In contemporary usage, the word “grace” often refers only to the initial act of God’s saving work, “For by grace you have been saved” (Eph. 2:8). More broadly, it is God’s mercy towards our remnant sin.
When Puritans used the word, they routinely referenced God’s grace as the various operations of God’s good will toward us and work in us.
Consider the following passage from John Owen:
If we neglect to make use of what we have received, God may justly hold his hand from giving us more. His graces, as well as his gifts, are bestowed on us to use, exercise, and trade with.
John Owen, The Works of John Owen, ed. William H. Goold, “The Mortification of Sin,” vol. 6 (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, n.d.), 13. And:
By causing our hearts to abound in grace and the fruits that are contrary to the flesh, and the fruits thereof and principles of them. So the apostle opposes the fruits of the flesh and of the Spirit: “The fruits of the flesh,” says he, “are so and so,” Gal. 5:19–21; “but,” says he, “the fruits of the Spirit are quite contrary, quite of another sort,” verses 22, 23. Yea; but what if these are in us and do abound, may not the other abound also? No, says he, verse 24, “They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” But how? Why, verse 25, “By living in the Spirit and walking after the Spirit;”—that is, by the abounding of these graces of the Spirit in us, and walking according to them.
John Owen, at p. 19. Grace is something that God does in us and through. Grace is not merely the disposition of God nor just our realization of God’s disposition, but grace God’s good work. That is why Burroughs writes in this section, “That in Contentment there is much exercise of grace“.
Contentment is to be prized by the believer, because in action evidences much of God’s good work in our lives.
Before we analyze Burroughs’ argument, why would evidence of God working in one’s life be desirable? In this prayer from The Valley of Vision, the unknown author refers to his preconversion life as “graceless”:
O Lord, I am astonished at the difference between my receivings and my deservings,
between the state I am now in and my past gracelessness,
between the heaven I am bound for
and the hell I merit.
Edited by Arthur Bennett. The Valley of Vision (Kindle Locations 213-215). The Banner of Truth Trust. What does “graceless” mean? Does that help understand what clear knowledge of God’s grace would be a comfort and encouragement?
Burroughs writes:
Much exercise of grace, There is a composition of grace in Contentment, there is faith, and there is humility, and love, and there is patience, and there is wisdom, and there is hope, all graces almost are compounded, it is in oil that hath the ingredients of all kind of graces, and therefore though you cannot see the particular grace, yet in this oil you have it all;
A What are the various things which Burroughs lists as separate graces? What makes up the “composition of grace”?
B Use your knowledge and a concordance to find passages in the Bible which extol each faith, humility, love, patience, wisdom.
C Exercise of faith:
1 What must one believe to exercise contentment when the present circumstances do not support any contentment? What must one believe about a difficult circumstance to be able to exercise contentment?
2 Read 1 Peter 1:3-9: What basis does Peter provide for the believer to exercise contentment in the midst of trials?
3 Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-18: What basis does Paul provide for the believer to exercise contentment?
4 Think of what makes it difficult to exercise contentment in the midst of difficulties: how then to do Peter & Paul provide a basis for contentment? How do the promises of God answer the trouble such that one can be contentment now where troubles are great?
5 What made the disciples troubled? Mark 4:35-41.
D Humility. How do you think that humility relates to the question of contentment? Consider it the opposite way, how does pride spur discontentment?
1 Read Isaiah 66:1-3. What makes a person humble? How is humility described in this passage?
2 Compare this aspect of humility (trembling) with faith which supports contentment: how does humility support faith and contentment?
E Wisdom:
1 Read Proverbs 1:20-33. What is promised here by humility?
2 Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-31.
a What is the wisdom of this world when faced by trouble?
b How does God’s wisdom display itself in this world: what did God’s greatest act of “wisdom” look like when played out on earth? (Read Psalm 2 and realize that the Psalm refers to the crucifixion of Christ. How did Christ’s death look to God (when on earth it looked like defeat)?
c How then does such wisdom relate to a contentment which is not dependent upon present appearances? Phil. 1:27-30, 3:7-11; 2 Corinthians 12:10
F Hope:Read Romans 5:1-5
1 What is the hope which Paul identifies in this passage
2 What produces this hope?
3 Understand that hope controls human direction, motivation, conduct, et cetera. We do what we hope. Hope is not merely motivation for something which we otherwise desire: hope is bound up in the desire itself. Our will is formed by our greatest desire/hope. We are discontentment, because our hope has been thwarted. (Imagine you wanted to get a ticket for some event. If you do not get the ticket, you are disappointed. Imagine now you hear some “sold-out” event which did not want to attend. You are not disappointed. This is a trivial example, but it helps illustrate the point).
4 Read Col. 1:24-28, compare this Paul’s words in Romans 5:1-5. Are suffering and hope contrary? If we obtain that for which we hope, how can be not be content?
5 Read 2 Corinthians 1:8-8, what does suffering produce? Do you see how suffering causes the loss of one hope so that it will be substituted by a better hope?
G How then do these elements help produce contentment in the believer?
H If our hope and faith are set upon God’s provision of what God promises, and if we are sufficiently humble to not substitute our own goals for God, will that produce contentment?
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, Study Guide 10.2
13 Tuesday Jun 2017
Posted in Contentment, Jeremiah Burroughs, Study Guide, Uncategorized
Tags
Contentment, Grace, Jeremiah Burroughs, John Owen, Study Guide, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
Note: I have rewritten this study guide and added a new series of questions at the end. The new lesson is found here
This is a continuation of a Study Guide on Jeremiah Burroughs The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment. The previous post may be found here:
There is a Great Deal of Grace in Contentment:
The second point made by Burroughs has to do with the “grace” which is poured out in contentment.
To understand this argument, it will be necessary to understand that the Puritians routinely used the word “grace” in a different manner than it is typically used by contemporary Christians. In contemporary usage, the word “grace” often refers only to the initial act of God’s saving work, “For by grace you have been saved” (Eph. 2:8). More broadly, it is God’s mercy towards our remnant sin.
When Puritans used the word, they routinely referenced God’s grace as the various operations of God’s good will toward us and work in us.
Consider the following passage from John Owen:
If we neglect to make use of what we have received, God may justly hold his hand from giving us more. His graces, as well as his gifts, are bestowed on us to use, exercise, and trade with.
John Owen, The Works of John Owen, ed. William H. Goold, “The Mortification of Sin,” vol. 6 (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, n.d.), 13. And:
By causing our hearts to abound in grace and the fruits that are contrary to the flesh, and the fruits thereof and principles of them. So the apostle opposes the fruits of the flesh and of the Spirit: “The fruits of the flesh,” says he, “are so and so,” Gal. 5:19–21; “but,” says he, “the fruits of the Spirit are quite contrary, quite of another sort,” verses 22, 23. Yea; but what if these are in us and do abound, may not the other abound also? No, says he, verse 24, “They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” But how? Why, verse 25, “By living in the Spirit and walking after the Spirit;”—that is, by the abounding of these graces of the Spirit in us, and walking according to them.
John Owen, at p. 19. Grace is something that God does in us and through. Grace is not merely the disposition of God nor just our realization of God’s disposition, but grace God’s good work. That is why Burroughs writes in this section, “That in Contentment there is much exercise of grace“.
Contentment is to be prized by the believer, because in action evidences much of God’s good work in our lives.
1. Before we analyze Burroughs’ argument, why would evidence of God working in one’s life be desirable? In this prayer from The Valley of Vision, the unknown author refers to his preconversion life as “graceless”:
O Lord, I am astonished at the difference between my receivings and my deservings,
between the state I am now in and my past gracelessness,
between the heaven I am bound for
and the hell I merit.
Edited by Arthur Bennett. The Valley of Vision (Kindle Locations 213-215). The Banner of Truth Trust. What does “graceless” mean? Does that help understand what clear knowledge of God’s grace would be a comfort and encouragement?
A. Burroughs writes:
Much exercise of grace, There is a composition of grace in Contentment, there is faith, and there is humility, and love, and there is patience, and there is wisdom, and there is hope, all graces almost are compounded, it is in oil that hath the ingredients of all kind of graces, and therefore though you cannot see the particular grace, yet in this oil you have it all;
B.What are the various things which Burroughs lists as separate graces? What makes up the “composition of grace”?
C. Use your knowledge and a concordance to find passages in the Bible which extol each faith, humility, love, patience, wisdom.
D. How do each of these “graces” contribute to being content? For example, how does humility make one more content, make contentment possible?
E. Based upon what you have considered, how is it a joy and encouragement to find evidence of each of these graces in your life?
F. How do these graces contribute to the strength and exercise of the other graces? How does love contribute to patience, and so on?
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, Study Guide. 10.1
27 Thursday Apr 2017
Posted in Jeremiah Burroughs, Study Guide, Uncategorized
It’s been a long time, but the previous post in this series may be found here.
Burroughs now moves to the question of motivation: it will take work to “learn” (Phil. 4:11) how to be content. Contentment is a heavenly flower, a mark of the age to come, and it is not common to this world. If anything, contentment has only become more difficult for people living at this time, because we live in a world that engages in constant propaganda to make us discontent. This is a fact noted by all. From those who are negative to Christianity, ” The whole thing [advertising] is a set up to keep us unhappy and foolishly intent on spending our way out this unhappiness.” But it was noted far earlier by Solomon,
Ecclesiastes 1:8 (ESV)
8 All things are full of weariness;
a man cannot utter it;
the eye is not satisfied with seeing,
nor the ear filled with hearing.
There are all the false offers of happiness in this world. Even though they all end the same (Ecclesiastes 2:11), we find them irresistible (Jer. 2:25). Therefore, breaking off from these false hopes and setting our hope in God such that we will do the work to learn contentment with God’s will for our lives — even when it crosses are desires — will require a hope in that contentment is better than what we have now.
It is to this task which Burroughs turns.
- How does Burroughs describe the result of this learning? If we have learned contentment, what would be the nature of our speaking about contentment? Read Philippians 4:1-13, the passage where Paul says that he has learned contentment. What is the tone taken by Paul in this passage? Verse 13 is a famous verse: in context, what is that God gives Paul the strength to do?
- Why does Burroughs note that even the greatest pagans thought contentment a great goal?
- The worship due God. In raising this issue, Burroughs is both showing us the greatness of contentment, and at the same time, raising the greatest barrier to contentment.
- How does Burroughs first define contentment? In particular note the aspect of free submission.
- What sort of thoughts, desires and fears keep you from freely submitting to God’s will for your life? If they hold that God is sovereign, and that our present circumstance must work for good, then what must we think when our present circumstance runs contrary to our will? What must we think about ourselves? What must we think about God?
- How does willing submission to God help bring about contentment?
- Why should giving God proper worship be a motivation for contentment? Honestly, does that seem like a sufficient reason?
- Burroughs uses some language which may sound offensive to your dignity, when he discusses worship. Read Genesis 3:5. Does this lie of the Serpent help shed light on why this is difficult for us?
- Look at a few passages involving humans meeting God:
- Leviticus 10:1-3
- Deuteronomy 5:22-27
iii. Isaiah 6:1-5
- Ezekiel 1
- Luke 5:8
- Luke 9:34
vii. Revelation 1:17
- What is wrong with our natural thoughts about God? ii
- How does Burroughs describe the greatness of this aspect of worship?
- Read Revelation 5: i) What sort of worship does Christ receive from those who know him best? ii) What is the basis for this worship? iii) Do you rightly value this worth? iv) Is it wise to submit one’s condition and life to such wisdom? v) Read Romans 8:31-32: is there any good which God would not give you?
A Most Disatisfied Man
29 Friday May 2015
Posted in Uncategorized
Jeremiah Burroughs, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
Godliness teaches us this mystery, Not to be satisfied with all the world for our portion, and yet to be content with the meanest condition in which we are.
Mark, here lies the mystery of it,
A little in the world will content a Christian for his passage,
but all the world, and ten thousand times more, will not content a Christian for his portion.
A carnal heart will be content with these things of the world for his portion; and that is the difference between a carnal heart and a gracious heart.
But a gracious heart says, ‘Lord, do with me what you will for my passage through this world; I will be content with that, but I cannot be content with all the world for my portion.’ So there is the mystery of true contentment.
A contented man, though he is most contented with the least things in the world, yet he is the most dissatisfied man that lives in the world.
The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, Study Guide.9
26 Tuesday Aug 2014
Tags
1 Timothy 6:10, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Contentment, James 1:9-11, Jeremiah Burroughs, Matthew 6:19-21, Matthew 6:24, money, Prosperity, providence, Study Guide, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
The previous post in this series may be found here
The
- Read Philippians 4:12: What are the categories of temptation which Paul lists?
- What temptation to discontentment does Burroughs list on page 103?
- Burroughs mentions two types of “trouble” on pages 103-4. What are they?
- Read 1 Timothy 6:10. What sort of trouble does money bring?
- What is the precise “root” – note the language used.
- Look to the second half of 6:10: how does Paul further define the effect of money; what does it produce in a human being?
- Contentment necessarily includes “having enough”. How then does money tempt one to be discontent? Is it possible to desire money and be content?
- Read the definition of contentment on page 40 of the book and compare that to what Jesus says in Matthew 6:24. How does money directly attack contentment?
- Stop and consider when or whether you have been tempted to discontentment desiring money? Has desire for money ever led you to sin? Have you been angry, covetous, envious, et cetera as a result of the desire for money?
- In addition to discontent caused by the desire for money, Burroughs mentions the discontentment caused by the possession of money. He uses the image of a town which deceives one upon entry. Read 1 Timothy 6:17-19. How does money which you have tempt you to discontentment?
- Read James 1:9-11: How does money possessed tempt one to sin?
- Read Matthew 6:19-21: How does money possessed tempt one to sin?
- Burroughs gives a picture of the effects of money possessed by discussing the behavior of insects around light or honey. He is explaining that money attracts temptations, like light or honey attract pests.
- Now, most of us do not consider ourselves rich –rich people always have more money than us. Yet, the average life of a human in the West is far beyond what most people in the history of the world could imagine for themselves – and far beyond what most people in the world currently experience. Moreover, even small amount of property is sufficient to encourage sin – when Jesus preached, he primarily spoke to poor people. How then have you found yourself tempted to sin by the possession of money? Consider the examples given in 1 Timothy, James & Matthew.
- On pages 105-6, Burroughs expands the weight of prosperity beyond just money. There is a prosperity of position which also brings along certain burdens. Look at the picture of Presidents on the day they were sworn into office and the day they retired. Consider persons who have positions that include a certain degree of respect or responsibility, what is the effect upon them? Or consider single people who think that if they had a spouse and children their life would be better – and then consider the difficulties which come with marriage & parenthood.
- On pages 106-7, Burroughs mentions the particular burdens which come with ministry. This was something Burroughs knew very well: When he was a poor and little known pastor and when he was a well-known pastor he experienced a great deal of trouble. In fact, he wrote The Rare Jewel when he was apparently prospering in ministry because he realized the difficulties and temptations.
- Consider all of the ways in which God has prospered you. Now, consider: What duties does your prosperity and position require of you?
- After you consider you duties, how do you think you will do when it comes time for you to give an account to God as to whether you have fulfilled your duties?
- On page 109, Burroughs states the “most dreadful evil”; what is it?
- How often have you been discontent because God has not given you what you most desire?
- Do you think that you are desiring the “most dreadful evil”?
- How is your heart’s desire the “most dreadful evil”?
- At the bottom of page 109, Burroughs lists the greatest sign of God’s wrath: What is it?
- Middle of page 110, how does God “convey the plague of his curse”?
- Do you believe Burroughs on this point? Are you tempted to think he got it wrong?
- On the bottom of page 110, Burroughs sets out worst sort of judgments. What is the worst form of judgment from God? Why do we tend to think that material prosperity is the greatest sort of good? Romans 1:21-25.
- What is the ninth and last lesson of contentment?
- Question 11 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism (which would express Burroughs’ position) reads as follows: “Q. 11. What are God’s works of providence A. God’s works of providence are his most holy, wise and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.” In short, God is sovereign over everything that happens. You also must know that this does not mean that human beings have no ability to make decisions. We do exactly what we want to do, and it is always what God has determined. That is very confusing, but Burroughs who have believed both to be true.
- On the top of page 112, Burroughs explains the scope of providence. How does knowing the scope of providence affect contentment? If it helps, look back at the definition on page 40?
- If God is completely sovereign and you are discontent, then you must believe what about God?
- In the middle of page 112, Burroughs explains the foolishness of raging against providence: what does he say?
- Page 113, what don’t we understand about providence when we are angry at what God has done?
- An example of providence is included at the end.
- What is the foolishness of discontentment when viewed in light of God’s Providence?
- On page 114, Burroughs identifies a reason that Christians often have difficulty taking comfort in God’s providence: what is it?
- What is the usual way that God deals with His people in this world? Page 115.
- If God doesn’t deal with you in this way, what might it mean? Hebrews 12:8.
- To whom does God give His greatest mercies?
- What is the way of God working? Page 117.
- Take a matter in which you are discontent. Then quickly run over the nine lessons for contentment given by Burroughs. After you examine your discontentment in light of these lessons, explain why you are right in continuing to be discontent.
A recent example of providence:
Crisis of War Turned to Gospel Opportunity in Ukraine
We pass along this recent experience of Dr. Bob Provost, President of SGA and TMS Board Member as told by Bruce Alvord (M.Div.’92, Th.M.’98):
“Traveling through Kiev, Dr. Robert Provost told us what he had seen in another city of Ukraine. There is a people group in Crimea called the Tartars, who are Russian-speaking Muslims and were persecuted by Stalin. As a result of the recent Russian invasion of Crimea, some of these Tartars have fled north to other parts of Ukraine. In the city that Dr. Provost was in, the director of a Baptist bible college asked the students if they would vacate their dorm rooms for the refugee families and sleep on mats on the classroom floors. They did.
Sixty Muslim refugees came – twenty adults (including an Imam – a Muslim mosque leader) and forty children. When the realized they were being taken for refuge to a Christian place, they were afraid. They feared there would be icons on the walls (which they would have to cover, believing them to be evil) and that they would have to hide their women from drunken, adulterous ‘priests.’ However, having no other option, they stayed. To their surprise, they found themselves and their children being treated kindly and sleeping in their hosts’ beds. They were shocked. They told the students, ‘If our places were switched, we would never do this for you. Why are you helping us?!’ After hearing the explanation, the Imam became interested in reading the Bible, but only under two conditions: the Bible couldn’t have a cross on it, and it had to have study notes explaining the text! Dr. Provost said, “Well, we happen to have just such a Bible here.” The Russian translation of the MacArthur Study Bible had been completed and didn’t have a cross on the cover!”
memoirandremains 