The Second Direction

Secondly, if you would get a contented life, do not gripe too much of the world, do not take in more of the business of the world than God calls you to, and be not greedy of taking in a great deal of the world. For if a man will go among thorns when he may go in a plainer way, there is no reason that this man should complain that he is pricked with them. You go among thorns; is it your way? Must you of necessity go among them? Then it is another matter; but if you will electively choose that way when you may go another, then you have no cause to complain. So for men and women that will put themselves upon things of the world that they need not, then no marvel though they be pricked, and meet with that which does disquiet them. For such is the nature of all things here in the world, that everything has some prick or other in it. We are likely to meet with disappointments and discontentments in everything we meddle with. And therefore those that have least to do in the world (that is, except God calls them to it, we must put in that), they are likely to meet with many things that will discontent them.

Second, if you want to live a contented life, do not grasp too much of the world. Do not take on more worldly business than God is calling you to, and do not be greedy in reaching for more of the world. If a man chooses to walk through a thorn bush when he could take a clear path, he has no reason to complain about being scratched. If the thorny path is your necessary way — if you must pass through it — that is a different matter. But if you freely choose that path when another is available, you have no grounds for complaint. So it is with men and women who throw themselves into worldly business they have no need to pursue — no wonder they are pricked and disturbed by it. Everything in this world has some kind of thorn in it. We are likely to meet with disappointments and discontent in everything we get involved with. Those who have the least unnecessary involvement in the world — apart from what God calls them to, which must always be done — are those most likely to avoid the discontentment that comes from overreaching.