2/10 Spurgeon Today

“I know how to abound.” — Philippians 4:12

There are many who know “how to be abased” who have not learned
“how to abound.” When they are set upon the top of a pinnacle their
heads grow dizzy, and they are ready to fall. The Christian far oftener
disgraces his profession in prosperity than in adversity. It is a dangerous
thing to be prosperous. The crucible of adversity is a less severe trial to
the Christian than the fining-pot of prosperity. Oh, what leanness of soul
and neglect of spiritual things have been brought on through the very
mercies and bounties of God! Yet this is not a matter of necessity, for the
apostle tells us that he knew how to abound. When he had much he knew
how to use it. Abundant grace enabled him to bear abundant prosperity.
When he had a full sail he was loaded with much ballast, and so floated
safely. It needs more than human skill to carry the brimming cup of mortal
joy with a steady hand, yet Paul had learned that skill, for he declares, “In
all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry.” It is a divine
lesson to know how to be full, for the Israelites were full once, but while
the flesh was yet in their mouth, the wrath of God came upon them. Many
have asked for mercies that they might satisfy their own hearts’ lust.
Fulness of bread has often made fulness of blood, and that has brought on
wantonness of spirit. When we have much of God’s providential mercies,
it often happens that we have but little of God’s grace, and little gratitude
for the bounties we have received. We are full and we forget God: satisfied
with earth, we are content to do without heaven. Rest assured it is harder
to know how to be full than it is to know how to be hungry — so
desperate is the tendency of human nature to pride and forgetfulness of
God. Take care that you ask in your prayers that God would teach you
“how to be full.”
“Let not the gifts Thy love bestows
Estrange our hearts from Thee.”