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The Christian's Consolation
A true Christian possesses a consolation which affords him more sweet satisfaction than the greatest wealth or power, because he believes that his affairs are so regulated by the Lord as to promote his salvation.
This was in the mind of David, who followed God and surrendered himself to his rule, and who declared, "I am as a child weaned of his mother; neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. . (Ps. 131:1-2) [John Calvin]
Posted by Deejay May 3, 2008@23:06
The good and the bad all from a Sovereign Lord
Finally, if we do not succeed according to our wishes and hopes, we shall, however, be kept from inpatients and from detesting our condition, whatever it may be; because we shall understand that this would be rebellion against God at whose pleasure riches and poverty, and contempt are distributed.
In conclusion, he who retains God's blessing in the way we have described will not passionately pursue the things which man in general covets, and he will not use base methods from which he expects no advantage.
Moreover, a true Christian will not ascribe any prosperity to his own diligence, industry, or good fortune, but he will acknowledge that God is the author of it.
If he makes but small progress, or even suffer setbacks while others are making headway, he will nevertheless bear his poverty with more calmness and moderation than any worldly man would feel when his success is average and contrary to his expectations. [John Calvin]
Posted by Deejay April 30, 2008@23:126
Seeking after God's things
As divine blessing comes only on him who is pure in his thoughts and righteous in his deeds, so it influences everyone who seeks to steer away from irregularity and corruption.
Further, we shall feel restrained from the intense desire to grow rich from the false ambition to seek honours.
For would it not be shameful to trust in divine assistance, if at the same time we should crave matters that are against God's word?
Far be it from God to prosper with his blessing what he curses with his mouth. [John Calvin]
Posted by Deejay April 29, 2008@19:15
Keeping our hearts clean in adversity
If we then believe that the whole cause of desirable prosperity is found in the divine blessing alone and that without this we may expect only miseries and calamities, it must be plain also that we should not anxiously strive for riches and honours by relying on our own diligence or cleverness or by depending on the favour of men or by trusting in the notion of good luck, but that we should always expect the Lord to direct us to the lot he has provided for us.
The result of this will be that, first of all, we shall not be in a rush to seize riches and honours by forbidden actions, by deceitful and criminal tricks, by robbing and injuring our neighbours; but that we shall limit ourselves to the pursuit of these interests which will not lure us away from the path of innocence.
For who can expect their help of divine blessing in fraud, robbery, and other evil acts? [John Calvin]
Posted by Deejay April 27, 2008@17:41
The foolishness of discontentment
On the other hand, his blessing will find a way to make us happy and prosperous, whatever adversities may come.
And though we may be able to obtain a certain measure of wealth and fame without Divine blessing, as we may daily observe in godless people who acquire great honours and enormous riches, yet we shall see that those who are under the curse of God have not the smallest particle of happiness.
Therefore, we cannot gain anything without Divine blessing; and if we do, it will prove a calamity to us.
Let us then not be foolish and wish for things that will make us more miserable. [John Calvin]
Posted by Deejay April 26, 2008@10:24
Everything depends on Divine blessing Alone
If God-fearing people do not want to be caught in such snares, they must pursue another course: they should not hope or desire or even think of prosperity without God's blessing.
We may believe and trust that everything depends on divine blessing alone.
It may look to us that we can easily attain honour and riches through our own industry or strenuous exertion or through the favour of others; yet, it is certain that all these things are nothing in themselves, and that we shall not make any headway by our insight or by our labours, but in so far as the Lord shall prosper both. [John Calvin]
Posted by Deejay April 24, 2008@20:57
What is real self-denial?
Let us discuss more in detail the main aspect of self-denial, its relation to God. It is needless to repeat the many remarks that have been made before, but it will suffice to point out how real self-denial makes us calm and patient.
First of all, Scripture draws our attention to this, that if we want ease and tranquillity in our lives, we should resign ourselves and all that we have to the will of God, and at the same time we should surrender our affections to him as our conqueror and overlord.
To crave wealth and honour, to demand power, to pile up riches, to gather all those vanities which seem to make for pomp and empty display, that is our furious passion and our unbounded desire.
On the other hand, we fear and abhor poverty, obscurity, and humility, and we seek to avoid them by all possible means.
We can easily see how restless people are who follow their own mind, how many tricks they try and how they tire themselves out in their efforts to obtain the object of their ambition and avarice, and then again to avoid poverty and humility. [John Calvin]
Posted by Deejay April 22, 2008@14:59
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