The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

""The devil loves to fish in troubled waters"--from Jeremiah Burroughs's Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment Jeremiah Burroughs reminds us that peace and calm in the midst of great troubles is a requirement for a Christian, and that learning contentment is the ABCs of the Christian life. But contentment does not come naturally. We excuse our stress, anxiety, and discouragement by claiming that we are just planning for the future and reacting normally to trials. But in this Puritan classic, Burroughs presents readers with the high calling to be content whatever the circumstances: "Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal. " show more "Burroughs, being a wise pastor, works the teaching of contentment into every possible nook and cranny in the Christian life. If you want to read something to make you feel you have arrived, this is not the book for you. Burroughs understands that contentment is a mystery and cannot be taught lightly. It requires diligent application if we are to say with Paul that we have learned the secret of being content in all circumstances"--from Nancy Wilson's introduction"-- show less

J.I. Packer once said that the puritans stand like the mighty redwoods across the landscape of evangelicalism in the past two millennia. Author Jeremiah Burroughs was one such puritan. He played a role in the Westminster Assembly and became a preacher at Cripplegate, one of the most prominent churches in London during the 17th century. As the cover bio suggests, he is indeed reckoned as belonging to the front rank of English puritan preachers.

Building his case from Scripture, Burroughs opens up his magisterial work defining contentment with a number of its inherent features. He moves on to display its mystery, how Christ teaches it, its excellence, the evils of a murmuring spirit, excuses of a discontented heart, and how to attain show more contentment. Though many have touted Burrough's Rare Jewel as a worthwhile read, it truly deserves to enjoy lasting influence in the church. His reminders and counsels provide a needed corrective for wayward, discontented, and covetous hearts. The essential nature of man has not changed since the dawn of time. Again and again, God's people who witnessed his awesome deeds complain incessantly for lack of comforts. Truly, the heart of man is never satisfied.

From ancient times to the present day, the human heart seeks contentment in worldly goods. Greedy and dissatisfied hearts reside within every man since Adam. Only through the new Adam will hearts drink from springs of living water and turn away from empty wells that promise refreshment but contain no water. Contentment's fruit will yield sturdy believers who are weaned off the requirements of external delights for happiness. Contentment graces the mature who have learned it and results in inward peace and cheerful hearts, no matter the circumstance. Indeed, godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Tim. 6:6). show less

A magnificent work that strives to lead the reader to profound Christian contentment in the only way really possible -- by the conviction of the Word and the indwelling of the Spirit. Burroughs, like so many of the Puritans, has a profound sense of balance between the sovereignty of God and the responsibility of man, and so he points you into your own heart for the problem, but points to the Cross as the solution. If you want to be content, Burroughs tells us, we must begin with the truth that God is working in all things, and he loses control of nothing. This work is convicting, but not with a meaningless conviction that goes nowhere, but one that points out attention to greater things, eternal things. Our contentment depends on how we show more turn away from the things of this world and toward the eternal things of God. An important book for all Christians. show less

A study of how to "be in need" (Philippians 4:11-12), yet be content in Christ.

It began well, explaining what godly contentment is and isn't. But then, in trying to be exhaustive, chapters overlapped and repeated themselves. I think this book was compiled from a sermon series? If that's the case, then it might make sense to re-cover some of the same ground each week -- but as a book it could be edited down a bit.

Other than the author's puritanical leanings towards wordiness this was an excellent book. Very edifying.

Audiobook

Excellent book which greatly helps the reader to gain an attitude of contentment, with God's grace. Worthy of being read, a little each day, indefinitely.

Convicting work on the sin of discontentment...enjoying it during my morning devotions