Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

The book I received was old, worn out and falling apart. I’m surprised it was even called acceptable, I don’t think it is.

I'm a prolific reader, and have read a fair number of Christian books dealing with a variety of subjects. This book is in the top 3 of books I've read in terms of having a profound impact on my life. As an attorney, I appreciate logical arguments, and that's what you get from Burroughs. He challenges the reader to retool his or her philosphy on contentment in view of the Grace of God. It's a hard book to read, but worth every second. I can't say enough about this book! Josh

I'd like to suggest to other potential buyers to check the ISBN number first before purchasing this book since there is more than one edition for this title. I recommend getting the particular edition published by The Banner of Truth Trust (ISBN # 0851510914) because it has an easier-to-read print type than the one printed by Sovereign Grace Publishers (ISBN # 1878442287). "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment" is a classic and "rare jewel" itself especially in our modern time. It's a wonderful treatment on the subject of contentment based on Paul's words in Philippians 4:11, "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Burroughs explains the nature of Christian contentment (what it is), the art and mystery of it, the excellence of it, the evils of a murmuring spirit, why we are to be content, what lessons must be learned to bring the heart to contentment, how Christ teaches contentment, and directions for us to attain contentment.

This is 'the book' on the doctrine of Christian contentment. The depth of the Puritans is rarely even approached by modern authors. Burrough's takes you through some of the ABC's of Christian living. For example on p.87-88 "We deserve nothing and therefore why should we be impatient if we do not get what we desire." Perhaps at the root of discontentment is that we really do not desire God's will in everything, at least in some things we want the Lord to rubber stamp and implement our will even if it is contrary to His. A Christian can be content no matter what their circumstances because contentment comes from the inward state of the heart and not from outward circumstances as the author ably instructs the reader. The importance of a believer learning to be content(and it is a lifelong process)would be difficult to overstate. It helps in dealing with temptation, it prepares the Christian for any type of service their Lord and Master requires of them, and it brings great comfort no matter how bleak things may appear to be. The writer also enables the reader to understand how that comfort is brought, on p.130 " Certainly our contentment does not consist in getting the thing we desire, but in God's fashioning our spirits to our conditions." God works in us to view things by faith, and by doing so , we see things more and more filtered through God's perspective. By doing that we can see a little more of the big picture of all of the Lord's dealings with His people and bring that to bear on what is happening in our life. Any Christian who learns to be more content both glorifies God and becomes increasingly useful in His service and thats why this book is so important and useful for the Lord's people.

Look at the self-help secion and Christian Living section in bookstores and you will find hundreds if not thousands of books professing to help the reader to contentment and happiness. Very few, if any, survive the test of time much less the test of human experience. This great book, written almost 400 years ago, addresses the basic problem of human discontent, suffering and offers a timeless and tested solution. 16th and 17th century Divines did not mince words, cater to the fickle tastes of the reading public or care about being poitically correct. They preached the truth.True contentment, argues the author, is achieved by subtraction and not by addition; by surrender and not struggle. Read this great work and toss all those written by people who will be forgotten next year. It will set your heart on fire and elevate your soul.

I am still reading this book, but I've read enough to have it significantly change my outlook on life and afflictions. I have learned in abundance what it means to trust the Lord in troubles and to realize that God will bring me out of them in His time, and it is my duty to praise the Lord and devote my heart to Him. My cup runs over when I read Jeremiah Burroughs.