CONTENTMENT by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 12, 1869

CONTENTMENT.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

“For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out; and having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.” 1 Tim. vi, 7, 8. This statement of the apostle is worthy of careful consideration. He states a fact which no one will deny: “We brought nothing into this world.” Every one who comes into the world, comes naked, helpless and dependent. After a few brief days of sojourn here, he goes out of the world. He may have gained great wealth, broad acres, and fine houses; he may have attained to great honor and authority; may have ruled kingdoms; but at last he must die; must go out of the world, and leave them all—not one thing can he take with him. Others will take his possessions and place, will live upon what he has gathered, and delight themselves in his labors; but he himself must lie down as low as the poorest, and as powerless as the weakest.

Such a fate is before every soul of man, except those who shall be translated. How very sensible, then, and forcible is the apostle’s conclusion: “Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.” When we have a sufficient amount of these to supply our necessary wants, let us be content and enjoy them. This is

the teaching both of reason and revelation. “Yet how differently men act! When they have gained a sufficient amount of this world’s goods to meet their reasonable wants, they are not at all content, but grasp after more, still more eagerly than they did at first. The more they have, the less contented they are—the less they enjoy it. How hard it is for man to learn that, as Jesus said, “A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Luke xii, 15. Contentment is the great secret of happiness. Without this, it is utterly impossible for any one, in any circumstances, to be happy.

D. M. CANRIGHT.

Sigourney, Sept. 28.