J.C. Ryle

Let us, in the second place, examine the ground on which St. Paul builds his precept.

That ground is one single text of Scripture. It is striking to observe what a small foundation the Apostle seems to lay down when he bids us be content. He holds out no promise of earthly good things and temporal rewards. He simply quotes a verse of God’s Word. The Master hath spoken, “He hath said”…

The main point I want to impress on men’s minds is this: we ought to make the texts and promises of the Bible our refuge in time of trouble and the fountain of our soul’s comfort. When St. Paul wanted to enforce a grace and recommend a duty, he quoted a text. When you and I would give a reason for our hope, or when we feel that we need strength and consolation, we must go to our Bibles and try to find out suitable texts. The lawyer uses old cases and decisions when he pleads his cause. “Such a judge has said such a thing; and therefore,” he argues, “it is a settled point.” The soldier on the battlefield takes up certain positions and does certain things; if you ask him why, he will say, “I have such and such orders from my general, and I obey them.” The true Christian must always use his Bible in like manner. The Bible must be his book of reference and precedents. The Bible must be to him his captain’s orders. If anyone asks him why he thinks as he does, lives as he does, feels as he does, all he has need to reply is, “God has spoken to such an effect: I have my orders, and that is enough.”

Reader, I know not whether I make the point clear; but simple as it seems, it is one of great practical importance. I want you to see the place and office of the Bible, and the unspeakable importance of knowing it well and being acquainted with its contents. I want you to arm yourself with texts and verses of the Bible fastened down in your memory—to read so [that you may] remember and to remember so [that you may] use what you read.

You and I have trouble and sorrow before us. It needs no prophetic eye to see that. Sicknesses, deaths, partings, separations, disappointments are sure to come. What is to sustain us in the days of darkness, which are many? Nothing [is] so able to do it as texts out of the Bible.

You and I, in all probability, may lie for months on a bed of sickness. Heavy days and weary nights, an aching body, and an enfeebled mind may make life a burden. And what will support us? Nothing is likely to cheer and sustain us so much as verses out of the Bible.

You and I have death to look forward to. There will be friends to be left, home to be given up, the grave to be visited, an unknown world to be entered, and the Last Judgment after all. What will sustain and comfort us when our last moments draw nigh? Nothing, I firmly believe, is so able to help our heart in that solemn hour as texts out of the Bible.

I want men to fill their minds with passages of Scripture while they are well and strong that they may have sure help in the day of need. I want them to be diligent in studying their Bibles and becoming familiar with their contents in order that the grand old Book may stand by them and talk with them when all earthly friends fail…I say to every reader: arm yourself with a thorough knowledge of God’s Word. Read it, and be able to say, “I have hope because it is thus and thus written. I am not afraid because it is thus and thus written.” Happy is that soul who can say with Job, “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12).

Let us examine, [finally], the particular text St. Paul quotes in enforcing the duty of contentment.

He tells the Hebrews, “He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” It matters little to what Person in the Trinity we ascribe these words, whether to Father, Son, or Holy Ghost. It all comes to the same in the end. They all are engaged to save man in the Covenant of Grace.³⁷ Each of the three Persons says, as the other two, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”

There is great sweetness in this peculiar promise. It deserves close attention. God says to every man or woman who is willing to commit his or her soul to the mercy that is in Christ, “I will never leave thee, and never forsake thee.” I, the eternal Father, the mighty God, the King of kings, “will never leave thee.” The English language fails to give the full meaning of the Greek. It implies, “never—no never—no, nor ever!”

Now, if I know anything of this world, it is a world of “leaving, forsaking, parting, separation, failure, and disappointment.” Think how immense the comfort of finding something that will never leave nor fail.

Earthly good things leave us. Health, money, property, friendship—all make themselves wings and flee away. They are here today and gone tomorrow. But God says, “I will never leave thee.”

We leave one another. We grow up in families full of affections and tender feelings, and then we are all thoroughly scattered. One follows his calling or profession one way, and another in another. We go north, south, east, and west and perhaps meet no more. We meet our nearest friends and relations only at rare intervals, and then to part again. But God says, “I will never leave thee.”

We are left by those we love. They die and diminish, and become fewer and fewer every year. The lovelier—like flowers—the more frail, delicate, and short-lived they seem to be. But God says, “I will never leave thee.”

Separation is the universal law everywhere except between Christ and His people. Death and failure stamp every other thing, but there is none in the love of God to believers.

The closest relation on earth—the marriage bond—has an end. To use the words of the Prayer-book service, it is only “till death us do part.” But the relation between Christ and the sinner that trusts in Him never ends. It lives when the body dies. It lives when flesh and heart fail. Once begun, it never withers. It is only made brighter and stronger by the grave. “I am persuaded,” says St. Paul, “that neither life, nor death, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38-39).

But this is not all. There is a peculiar depth of wisdom in the words, “I will never leave nor forsake.” Observe, God does not say, “My people shall always have pleasant things. They shall always be fed in green pastures and have no trials—or trials very short and few.” He neither says so, nor does He appoint such a lot to His people. On the contrary, He sends them affliction and chastisement. He tries them by suffering. He purifies them by sorrow. He exercises their faith by disappointments. Still, in all things He promises, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”

Let every believer grasp these words and store them up in his heart. Keep them ready and have them fresh in your memory: you will want them one day. The Philistines will be upon you, the hand of sickness will lay you low, the king of terror will draw near, the valley of the shadow of death will open up before your eyes. Then comes the hour when you will find nothing as comforting as a text like this—nothing as cheering as a realizing sense of God’s companionship.

Stick to that word never. It is worth its weight in gold. Cling to it as a drowning man clings to a rope. Grasp it firmly as a soldier attacked on all sides grasps his sword. God has said and will stand to it, “I will never leave thee.”

“Never!” Though your heart often faints, and you are sick of self and your many failures and infirmities: even then, the promise will not fail.

“Never!” Though the devil whispers, “I shall have you at last. Yet a little time and your faith will fail, and you will be mine.” Even then, God will keep His word.

“Never!” Though waves of trouble go over your head, and all hope seems taken away. Even then the Word of God will stand.

“Never!” When the cold chill of death is creeping over you and friends can do no more, and you are starting on that journey from which there is no return. Even then, Christ will not forsake you.

“Never!” When the Day of Judgment³⁸ comes, the books are opened, the dead are rising from their graves, and eternity is beginning—even then, the promise will bear all your weight. Christ will not leave His hold on your soul.

Oh, believing reader, trust in the Lord forever, for He says, “I will never leave you.” Lean back all your weight upon Him: do not be afraid. Glory in His promise. Rejoice in the strength of your consolation. You may say boldly, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear” (Heb 13:6).

I conclude this paper with three practical remarks. Consider them well, reader, and lay them to heart:

(1) Let me tell you why there is so little contentment in the world. The simple answer is because there is so little grace and true religion. Few know their own sin, few feel their desert, so few are content with such things as they have. Humility, self-knowledge, a clear sight of our own utter vileness and corruption—these are the true roots of contentment.

(2) Let me show you, secondly, what you should do if you would be content. You must know your own heart, seek God for your portion, take Christ for your Savior, and use God’s Word for your daily food. Contentment is not to be learned at the feet of Gamaliel, but at the feet of Jesus Christ. He who has God for his friend and heaven for his home can wait for his good things and be content with little here below.

(3) Let me tell you, lastly, that there is one thing with which we ought never to be content. That thing is a little religion, a little faith, a little hope, and a little grace. Let us never sit down satisfied with a little of these things. On the contrary, let us seek them more and more…One thing there is which should never satisfy and content us and that is anything that stands between our souls and Christ.

______

³⁸ See FGB 210 Day of Judgment, available from CHAPEL LIBRARY.

37. Covenant of Grace – God’s gracious, eternal purpose of redemption, conceived before the creation of the world, first announced in Genesis 3:15, progressively revealed in history, accomplished in the Person and work of Jesus Christ, and appropriated by faith in Him.

J. C. Ryle (1816-1900): Bishop of the Anglican Church; born at Macclesfield, Cheshire County, England.

Courtesy of Chapel Library