Babcock: the inside of the cup

Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Meditation:
    I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
    —Philippians 4:10-13 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Contentment is not satisfaction. It is the grateful, faithful, fruitful use of what we have, little or much. It is to take the cup of Providence, and call upon the name of the Lord. What the cup contains is its contents. To get all that is in the cup is the act and art of contentment. Not to drink because one has but half a cup, or because one does not like its flavor, or because somebody else has silver to one’s own glass, is to lose the contents; and that is the penalty, if not the meaning, of discontent. No one is discontented who employs and enjoys to the utmost what he has. It is high philosophy to say, we can have just what we like if we like what we have; but this much at least can be done, and this is contentment,—to have the most and best in life by making the most and best of what we have.
    ... Maltbie D. Babcock (1858-1901), Thoughts for Every-day Living, New York: C. Scribner’s sons, 1901, p. 54 (see the book)
    See also Phil. 4:10-13; Gen. 28:20-22; Matt. 6:31-34; Luke 3:14; Phil. 3:8-9; 1 Tim. 6:6-9; Heb. 10:34; 13:5-6
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, grant me contentment with what You have given me. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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