Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
“Our conformity to the will of God should extend to our natural defects, mental ones included. We should not, for example, complain or feel grieved at not being so clever or so witty or not having such a good memory as other people. Why should we complain of the little that has fallen our lot when we have deserved nothing of what God has given us. Is not all a free gift of His generosity for which we are greatly indebted to Him? What services has He received from us that He should have made us as a human being rather than some lower animal? Have we done anything to oblige Him to give us existence itself?
But it is not enough just not to complain. We ought to be content with what we have been given and desire nothing more. What we have is sufficient because God has judged it so. Just as a workman uses the shape and size of tool best suited to the job in hand, so God gives us those qualities which are in accordance with the designs He has for us. The important thing is to use well what He has given us. It may be added that it is very fortunate for some people to have only mediocre qualities or limited talents. The measure of them that God has given will save them, which they might be ruined if they had more. Superiority of talent very often only serves to engender pride and vanity and so becomes a means of perdition.”
Jean Baptiste Saint-Jure (1588-1657) in the section entitled “In Defects of Nature” in Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence: The Secret of Peace and Happiness (Charlotte: TAN Books, 2012).
I have decided to explore providence, my key word for 2017, in my remaining posts for this year. It fits as the climax of Advent is the celebration of our Savior, the greatest provision for the world. Also, I have found that year-end giving grows when we consider that God provided all that we have for enjoyment and sharing.
In Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence, Jean Baptiste Saint-Jure reminds us not to complain but to be content. When we complain, we tend toward slothful stewardship, which is not using what we have; whereas to “use well what He has given us” is the mark of good and faithful stewards.
What hit home with me in today’s reading was the idea of not complaining regarding our natural defects. We all have them. Personally, I have a bad back. It’s been sore and stiff lately. Complaining and inactivity only worsens my condition. I’ve learned to give thanks for limited mobility, do my stretches, and press on.
How about you? What do you have and how are you using what you have? You are not a steward of what you haven’t got, so don’t worry about that stuff. Furthermore, imagine how pride would overcome you if you had no limitations. God made you to need Him and others. Generously play your part!
As the Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ approaches, let’s choose not to complain but rather, let’s show the world contentment. Let’s “use well what He has given us.” We have everything we have ever needed and will ever need in the Christ of Christmas, and He will never leave us nor forsake us.