Spurgeon: February AM
* 02/10/AM
"I know how to abound."
--Philippians 4:12
There are many who know "how to be abased" who have not
learned "how to abound." When they are set upon the top of a
pinnacle their heads grow dizzy, and they are ready to fall. The
Christian far oftener 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 fining-pot of prosperity. Oh, what leanness of soul and
neglect of spiritual things have been brought on through the
very mercies and bounties of God! Yet this is not a matter of
necessity, for 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 bear abundant prosperity. When he had a full sail he was
loaded with much ballast, and so floated safely. It needs more
than human skill to carry the brimming cup of mortal joy with a
steady hand, yet Paul had learned that skill, for he declares,
"In all things I am instructed both to be full and to be
hungry." It is a divine lesson to know how to be full, for the
Israelites were full once, but while the flesh was yet in their
mouth, the wrath of God came upon them. Many have asked for
mercies that they might satisfy their own hearts' lust. Fulness
of bread has often made fulness of blood, and that has brought
on wantonness of spirit. 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--so desperate
is the tendency of human nature to pride and forgetfulness of
God. Take care that you ask in your prayers that God would teach
you "how to be full."
" Let not the gifts Thy love bestows
Estrange our hearts from Thee."