A Seventh Consideration Is This

Consider the condition that others have been in that have been our betters. We made some use of that before to show the evil of discontentment. But further for to work this upon our hearts, it is a mighty Argument to work upon our hearts a contentedness in any condition.

You many times do consider who are above you, but consider who are under you.

Jacob that was the heir both of Abraham and Isaac, (for the blessing was upon him) and the Promise ran along in him, yet was in a poor mean condition. Abraham that was his Grandfather was able to make a kind of Army of his own household, 300 to fight with a King, yet Jacob his Grand-child he goes over Jordan with a staff, and lives in a very poor and mean condition for a long time. And Moses that might have had all the treasures in Egypt, and as some Historians say of him Pharaoh's Daughter adopted him for her son, because Pharaoh had no heir for the Crown, and so he was like to have come to the Crown, yet what a low condition did he live in when he went to live with Jethro his Father in law 400 years together. Afterward when he returned to Egypt, he and his wife and children, and all that he had, and yet he had but one beast to carry him to Egypt, he went in a mean condition when he went from his Father in law to Egypt back again.

And Elijah we know how he was fed with Ravens, and how he was forced to shift for his life from time to time, and run into the wilderness up and down. And so did Elisha, he was various times in a very low condition. The Prophets of God they were to be hid in a Cave by Obadiah, and there to be fed with bread and water. And the Prophet Jeremiah put into a Dungeon, and oh how was he used! And it would be an endless thing to name the particulars of the great sufferings of the people of God. In former time we have sometimes made use of this Argument other ways. The great Instruments of God in the first Reformation they lived in great straits, in a very low condition. Even Luther himself when he was to die (said he) Lord (though he were a man of such public use, and was a great man in the Courts of Princes) Lord I have neither house nor lands, nor estate to leave any thing to wife or children, but I commit them to thee. And so Musculus that was a very choice Instrument of God in his time, though he were a man that was worth even a Kingdom for the excellency of his spirit, and learning, for he was one of the most learned men of his time, yet sometimes he was put to dig in the common ditch to get bread for his family. What would we do if we were in such a condition as these men were? But above all set Christ before us, that professes that the birds of the air had nests, and the Foxes had holes, yet the Son of man had no place to hide his head in, that low condition he was in. The consideration of such things as these is very useful. It is likewise useful for men and women of estates to go to poor peoples houses and see how they live, to go to Hospitals, and to see the wounds of soldiers and others, and to see the lamentable condition that people live in that live in some Alms-houses, and what poor fare they have, and what straits they are put to. You hear sometimes of them, but if you went to see them it would not only stir up charity in yourselves towards them, but stir up thankfulness in your hearts towards God. It would be a special means to help you against any discontent. You would go away and see cause to bless God and say, if I were in such a condition as they are in what should I do? How could I bear it? And yet what reason is there that God does so order and dispose of things that they should be so low in their estates and I so high? I know no reason but free grace, God will have mercy upon whom he will have mercy. These are some good considerations for the furtherance of Contentment.

Consider the conditions that others far greater than us have lived through. We touched on this earlier to show the sinfulness of discontent, but it is also a powerful argument for producing contentment in our hearts.

You often compare yourself to those above you — try instead comparing yourself to those below you.

Jacob was the heir of both Abraham and Isaac — the covenant blessing ran through him — and yet he lived in a poor and humble condition. Abraham his grandfather was able to field a kind of private army from his own household, three hundred men to fight a king. Yet Jacob his grandson crossed the Jordan with nothing but a staff and lived in a very poor state for a long time. Moses could have had all the treasures of Egypt — some historians say that Pharaoh's daughter adopted him as her son because Pharaoh had no heir to the throne, meaning Moses was in line to become king. Yet what a humble life he lived when he went to stay with his father-in-law Jethro for forty years. When he finally returned to Egypt with his wife and children and all his possessions, he had only one animal to carry them — he traveled in humble circumstances from his father-in-law's home back to Egypt.

Elijah was fed by ravens and forced to flee for his life from place to place, wandering in the wilderness. Elisha also was in very difficult circumstances at various times. God's prophets had to be hidden in a cave by Obadiah and kept alive on bread and water. The prophet Jeremiah was thrown into a dungeon and treated shamefully. It would take too long to list all the particular sufferings of God's people. Even in recent history, the great instruments of God in the Reformation lived in very difficult and humble conditions. Luther himself, on his deathbed — a man of enormous public influence, known at the courts of princes — said: "Lord, I have neither house nor land nor estate to leave to my wife or children, but I commit them to You." Musculus was another remarkable instrument of God in his day, a man whose spirit and learning were worth a kingdom — one of the most learned men of his time. Yet at times he was reduced to digging ditches in the public works to earn bread for his family. What would we do if we were in such a condition as these men? But above all, set Christ before you — the One who said that the birds of the air had nests and the foxes had dens, yet the Son of Man had no place to lay His head. That is the depth of lowness He entered. Reflecting on such things is very valuable. It is also helpful for those with means to visit the homes of the poor, to go to hospitals, to see the wounds of soldiers and others, and to observe the miserable conditions in which people in some almshouses live — the poor food they have, and the hardships they face. You hear about such things — but if you went to see them in person, it would not only stir up charity in you toward them, but gratitude toward God. It would be a particular help against discontent. You would come away blessing God and saying: if I were in their condition, what would I do? How could I bear it? And what reason is there that God has ordered things so that they are so low and I am so much better off? I know of no reason except free grace — God will have mercy on whom He will have mercy. These are some good considerations for helping us grow in contentment.