a balanced heart
” I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”
A carnal heart knows no way to be content in this world, as humans we always wonder: “If I have such and such possessions, and if I could also get such and such a thing, then I will be very happy and content.” But contentment seem to always elude us. Does contentment come such a way? It does not come by merely adding to what we want, but rather by subtracting from our desires. Do you agree? It is all one to a Christian, whether I get up to what I would have, or get my desires down to what I have, either to attain what I do desire, or to bring down my desires to what I have already attained.
Now, we know that our heart that has no grace, and our heart has not learnt this mystery of contentment, it knows of no way to get true satisfaction apart from getting hold of our desires; but the believers has another way to get contentment, that is, we can bring our desires down to what we already possess, and so we find contentment. We need to understand, it is God who fashions our hearts: “He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.” (Psalms 33:15). Our world is infinitely deceived into thinking that contentment lies in having more than we already have. Here lies the bottom and root of all contentment, when there is a balance between our hearts and what we possess. That is why many godly men who are in lower position live more sweet and comfortable lives than those who are richer.
Satisfaction, Contentment, is not always clothed with silk and purple, but it is sometimes in a hand-woven coat too, in times when we have crunches, as well as in heydays. Many people who once have had great estates and but later God brought them to a more humble position have had more contentment in those circumstances than they had before. Now how can that possibly be? Quite easily, if we only understood that the root of our contentment or satisfaction consists in the balance between our hearts and our possessions, a balance where one end is not longer and bigger than the other. We ought to seek to bring our desires down to what we already possess and be thankful. It isn’t always going to be an easy way, but we can ask the Lord to fashion your heart today; “He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works.” We can be open and honest to God, who knows our heart more than we do. The heart is contented and there is comfort in those circumstances.
But now let God give a man riches, no matter how great, yet if the Lord gives him up to the pride of his heart, he will never be contented: on the other hand, let God bring anyone into mean circumstances, and then let God but fashion and suit his heart to those circumstances and he will be content.