by Charles H. Spurgeon

I have learned in whatever state I am, therewith to be content. Philippians 4:11

These words show us that contentment is not a natural propensity of man. Grumbling, discontent, and murmuring are as natural to man as weeds are to the soil. We need not sow thistles and weeds; they come up naturally enough, because they are indigenous to earth. Just so, we need not teach men to complain; they complain fast enough without any education.

“Ill weeds grow quickly.” But the precious things of the earth must be cultivated. If we would have wheat, we must plough and sow; if we want flowers, there must be the garden, and all the gardener’s care.

Now, contentment is one of the flowers of Heaven, and if we would have it, then it must be cultivated, as it will not grow in us by nature. It is the new nature alone which can produce contentment and even then we must be especially careful and watchful, that we maintain and cultivate the grace which God has sown in us.

Paul says, I have learned… to be content; as much as to say, that he did not know how at one time. It cost him some pains to attain to the mastery of that great truth. No doubt he sometimes thought he had learned, and then broke down. And when at last he had attained unto it, and could say, I have learned in whatever state I am, therewith to be content, he was an old, grey-headed man, upon the borders of the grave — a poor prisoner shut up in Nero’s dungeon at Rome.

We might well be willing to endure Paul’s infirmities, and share the cold dungeon with him if we too might by any means attain unto his high degree of contentment. Do not indulge the notion that you can learn contentment without discipline. It is not an ability that may be exercised naturally, but a grace to be acquired gradually. We know this from experience. Brother, hush that murmur, natural though it be and continue a diligent pupil in the College of Contentment.