The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-07-11

A4Noe
was himself q scholar-perhaps the
only one among the Apostles--and he
would be the last person to give such
| pernicious advice.
| Above all, he would never bid us be
content with what we are as regards
our religious life. With that we should
never be content, no. hot for an in
| slant. The Apostle--and he is in en-
tire accord with the spirit of the Cos
pei on this point--does not suggest
| anything to foster satisfaction
| with what We are In relation to Christ
| Never, under any circumstances, should
we be content with that. Nay, the es-
| sence of Christian. life consists in the
struggle to become more and more
Christlike from day to day. to go on
from glory to glory. and to realize the
Christ ideal in our feelings. our in
spirations. our characteristic oppo-
site Of content with what we are, you
| observe. No, the apostolic Injunction
| applies to things without US. 1t does
not apply to what we are, but to what
| we have, which Is not part of US at
| all. 1t deals with temporal and ma,
| terial conditions. 1t has nothing what
soever to do with spiritual matters,
| with our growth in Christ 1t has
| reference solely to things earthly. 1t
does not refer at all to things heavenly.
Now, having seen what St. Paul does
not mean, let US see what he does
| mean.
BE content with such things as We
| have" What is 1t to be "content?"
Surely. 1t is to be in state of good
| humor, cheerful, Christian adaptability.
| conformity, as applied to ones lot in
life, whatever 1t navy be and wherever
1t may be. Yet, how often do we fret
| and grumble over our hardships.
whether fancied or real! How I'M
| gratefully do we estimate our bless
ings! Take health. for example. We
| are wont to regard 1t as a matter of
course. 1t rarely enters our hearts to
feel thankful for it. Nevertheless.
| humanity speaking, 1t is Gods chief
blessing to us. For. from health, you
observe, comes physical and mental
| vigor to earn a livelihood and to enjoy
| all that is given to brighten and beau
| tify earthly life. Moreover, 1t affords
| most seriously and profoundly our spit
itual condition and growth.
In the light of St. Paurs injunction:
| BE content with such things as We
have" how interesting and suggN-
| tive to look about us and study humun
| life. We see people who are happy
under all circumstances. We see peo-
pie who are miserable under all cir
cumstances. In household where
| there is an empty larder. we see
cheerful and never-failing confidence
| in the Heavenly Father. In a home
where there Is comfort, even luxury, We
see dissatisfaction with everything
expressed in fretful. complaining
| spirit We see Nero miserable on a
| throne. We see St. Paul happy in
dungeon. We see Ahab melancholy
| and heavy hearted amid the splendors
| of gilded palace. We see Naboth
| near by, content in the possession of
| simple vineyard. Therefore. obser-
walton and knowledge of human ma
| ture, teach US that contentment comes
from within. Its secret lies in the fact
| that the heart is strong in the love
| and faith of Christ Jesus and In striv-
| ing to have the same mind that was
| in Him. If this be the case, we are
| content with such things as we have.
II 1t be not the case, we are discon-
| tented whatever We may have.
Further a little reflection upon the
| facts of life proves to us that after all
every difference in our worldly condi-
| ton Is but feeting and transitory.
This ought to help fill our hearts with
content You build houses. You cul-
| tivate lands. You have your places OF
| business They must all soon pass to
| others. Your trials, your troubles,
| your tcHptdttouS may HOW press
heavily upon you. But they will soon
end And none of them knocks at the
door of the grave.
| BE content with such things as We
have. - But" you cry, from the
depths of your sorely tried spirits,
how can / be content when the path
of life is so rough? The flint stones
are cruelty sharp. The sun beats down
fiercely and mercilessly while l, with
| h lea nd 1oh
ever toll onwards-~. This is a hard say
ing: BE content with such things as
I've have Yes, it is hard, / frankly
confess it, But, as with every Ill in
life. 1t Is not so hard as 1t seems.
Reflect moment. men and brethren.
II the path of life were always smooth
you would depend entirely upon your
own strength, and probably never turn
to- your Savior at all. never respond
to your Heavenly Fathers appeal: My
son, give Me thine heart" You would
also never realize that vital, blessed
truth, in st. Paurs marvellous claim.
MY strength Is made perfect in weak
ness"
We may we'll believe our Heavenly
Father at times purposely makes our
path rough. Thus are we, at length,
forced. in faith and humility, to reach
and grasp the Divine hand always
stretched out to help us to our feet
when we fall and lead us back into
the way OF everlasting life. Some
times. darkness comes close up and
around us and seems verify about to
overwhelm US. Thus are we forced to
realize we need light. the light of Him
who said, you remember: II am the
light OF the world Thus are we made
with cropping, feeble, seeking hands to
roach out and feel for that eternal
Hight, the light of the Son of Righteous
ness who rose with healing in His
wings.
Furthermore. If we were always pros
porous. If we had pretty much every
thing we desire, If we had our own way
| all the time, it is almost certain we
W ould never seek Christ at all. But
storms of sorrow arise. Tempests of
trial and affliction beat down upon us.
We totter, yes. fall. 1t may be. But.
we are lifted to our feet again by the
Divine hand of our Lord and Redeem
err. We begin to turn our steps toward
Him and the human exemplar and the
IDivine sacrifice, We begin to be con-
Itent with such things as we have. And
| on strengthened, invigorated, encour-