Morning & Evening Devotional Reading–

February 10– Morning

 by C. H. Spurgeon, revised and edited by W. C. Neff

“I have learned how to be content.” 

—Philippians 4:12

 

There are many who know how to have little who have not learned “how to prosper with much.” When they are set upon the top of a pinnacle their heads grow dizzy, and they are ready to fall. The Christian far more often disgraces his profession in prosperity than in adversity. It is a dangerous thing to be prosperous. The crucible of adversity is a less severe trial to the Christian than the golden tea cup of prosperity. Oh, what spiritual poverty has come to many who have known the mercies and bounties of God! But it doesn’t have to be that way.

The apostle tells us that he knew how to abound. When he had much he knew how to use it. Abundant grace enabled him to handle abundant prosperity. When his sails were full, he was loaded with extra weight and floated safely. It is a divine lesson to know how to be full. The Israelites were full once, but, with the food still in their mouths, the wrath of God came upon them. Many Christians have asked for mercies in order to satisfy their own hearts’ lusts. Their material prosperity marked their spiritual downfall.

When we have much of God’s providential mercies, it often happens that we have but little of God’s grace and little gratitude for the bounties we have received. We are full, and we forget God. Satisfied with earth, we are content to do without heaven. Rest assured it is harder to know how to be full than it is to know how to be hungry; that’s how desperate the tendency of human nature is to pride and forgetfulness of God.

Today, take care that you ask in your prayers that God would teach you “how to be full!” [M&E]