Happy Paul! infinitely richer than the most opulent monarch under heaven. Ye poor, wretched, covetous worldlings, whose gold is your god, and who are laboring to add heap to heap–how long! till ye drop into eternity, and for ever lose the idols of your hearts? Behold here a man who has more than ever you possessed–he has all; you only obtain a part of what you aim at: you are still in want of more. Rich, happy Paul, possesses all. "And," says he, "I abound." Not in want and wish, but in full enjoyment. "I am full." I can contain no more. He had "the unsearchable riches of Christ" for his portion: his wealth consisted in his mind being contented with that as his greatest treasure.
O thou poor murmuring disciple of Christ, who art often fearing and distrusting lest thou shouldst want the bread that perisheth for thyself and family; and thou, my soul, who hast often been exercised with this sore temptation, learn a lesson from rich and happy Paul. Of all the men in the world, would you expect to hear St. Paul say, "I have all things and abound: I am full?" What! he who has been in necessities, in want, in nakedness; who, like his Master, had not where to lay his head, and was treated as the filth and off-scouring of all things? for him to say, "I have all and abound: I am full." O may the Lord contract our wants! They are most of them more imaginary than real.
Lord, enable us to be content with such things as we have! What are they? Come, christian, count up your riches; look over the deeds of your inheritance; see to what vast possessions you are entitled; verily, no less than what Paul once had by faith and now enjoys in full possession, even Jesus, the God of his salvation; Christ is all in all: if he dwells in your heart by faith, he filleth all; you have all; you abound in all; you are full of all. The flesh may covet more, the spirit must be quite satisfied with Him for "all things are yours; and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's." I Cor. 3:23. Learn hence the use and blessedness of your faith; it brings the unsearchable riches of Christ into your heart. When flesh and sense require to be gratified, here is the work of faith, "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." Rom. 13:14.