ON BEING CONTENTED.
The true secret of happiness is, to be contented. “Godliness,” says
the apostle Paul, “_with contentment_, is great gain.” These two are
_great gain_, because, without them, all the gain in the world will not
make us happy. Young people are apt to think, if they had this thing or
that, or if they were in such and such circumstances, different from
their own, they would be happy. Sometimes they think, if their parents
were only rich, they should enjoy themselves. But rich people are often
more anxious to increase their riches than poor people are to be rich;
and the more their artificial wants are gratified, the more they are
increased. “The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled
with hearing.” Solomon was a great king, so rich that he was able to
get whatever his heart desired. He built great palaces for himself; he
filled them with servants; he treasured up gold and silver; he bought
gardens, and vineyards, and fields; he bought herds of cattle, with
horses and carriages; he kept men and women singers, and players on
all sorts of instruments; whatever his eyes desired he kept not from
them; he withheld not his heart from any joy; but with it all he was
not satisfied. He called it all “vanity and vexation of spirit.” So you
may set your heart at rest, that riches will not make you happy. Nor
would you be any more happy, if you could exchange places with some
other persons, who seem to you to have many more means of enjoyment
than yourself. With these things that dazzle your eyes, they have also
their trials; and if you take their place, you must take the bitter
with the sweet.
But young people sometimes think, if they were only men and women, and
could manage for themselves, and have none to control them, then they
would certainly be happy, for they could do as they please. But in this
they are greatly mistaken. There will then be a great increase of care
and labor; and they will find it more difficult to _do as they please_
than they do now. If they have none to control them, they will have
none to provide for them. True, they may then manage for themselves;
but they will also have to support themselves. Those who have lived the
longest, generally consider youth the happiest period of life, because
it is comparatively free from trouble and care, and there is more time
for pleasure and amusement.
But there is one lesson, which, if you will learn it in youth, will
make you happy all your days. It is the lesson which Paul had learned.
You know that he suffered great hardships in travelling on foot, in
various countries, to preach the gospel. He was often persecuted,
reviled, defamed, beaten, and imprisoned. Yet he says, “_I have learned
in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content._” There are several
things which should teach us this lesson. In the first place, God, in
his holy providence, has placed us in the condition where we are. He
knows what is best for us, and what will best serve the end for which
he made us; and of all other situations, he has chosen for us the one
that we now occupy. Who could choose so well as he? And then, what can
we gain by fretting about it, and worrying ourselves for what we cannot
help? We only make ourselves unhappy. Moreover, it is very ungrateful
and wicked to complain of our lot, since God has given us more and
better than we deserve. It is better to look about us, and see how many
things we have to be thankful for; to look upon _what we have_, rather
than _what we have not_. This does not, indeed, forbid our seeking to
improve our condition, provided we do it with submission to the will
of God. We ought to use all fair and lawful means to this end; but not
in such a spirit of discontent and repining, as will make us miserable
if we are disappointed. If you desire to be happy, then, BE CONTENTED.