The benefit of affliction

Posted : 6 May, 2013 02:15 AM

Psalm 119:72 The law of Your mouth is better unto me than

thousands of gold and silver.





Well might David acknowledge the benefit of affliction, since

he had thus learned in God's statutes something that was

better to him than thousands of gold and silver. This was

indeed an enlightened judgment for one to form, who had so

small a part of the law of God's mouth, and so large a portion

of this world's treasure. And yet, if we study only his book of

Psalms to know the important uses and privileges of this law,

and his son's book of Ecclesiastes, to discover the real value

of paltry gold and silver, we shall, under Divine teaching, be

led to make the same estimate for ourselves. Yes, believer,

with the same, or rather with far higher delight than the miser

calculates his thousands of gold and silver, do you tell out the

precious contents of the law of your God. After having

endeavored in vain to count the thousands in your treasure,

one single name sums up their value-"the unsearchable riches

of Christ." Would not the smallest spot of ground be estimated

at thousands of gold and silver, were it known to conceal

under its surface a mine of inexhaustible treasure? This it is that makes the word so inestimable. It is the field of the

"hidden treasure." "The pearl of great price" is known to be

concealed here. You would not, therefore, part with one leaf of

your Bible for all the thousands of gold and silver. You know

yourself to be in possession of the substance-you have found

all besides to be a shadow. "I lead"-says the Savior-"in the

way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment;

that I may cause them that love me to inherit substance; and I

will fill their treasures." The grand motive, therefore, in

"searching the Scriptures," is because "they testify of Christ."

A sinner has but one want-a Savior. A believer has but one

desire-to "know and win Christ." With a "single eye," therefore,

intent upon one point, he studies this blessed book. "With

unveiled face he beholds in this glass the glory of the Lord:"

and no arithmetic can compute the price of that, which is now

unspeakably better to him than the treasures of the earth.

Christian! bear your testimony to your supreme delight in the

book of God. You have here opened the surface of much

intellectual interest and solid instruction. But it is the joy that

you have found in the revelation of the Savior, in His

commands, in His promises, in His ways, that leads you to

exclaim, "More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than

much fine gold!" Yes, indeed-every promise-every declarationcentering in Him, is a pearl; and the word of God is full of

these precious pearls. If then they be the richest who have the

best and the largest treasure, those who have most of the

word in their hearts, not those who have most of the world in

their possession-are justly entitled to this preeminence. "Let

then the word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom." For

those who are rich in this heavenly treasure are men of

substance indeed.

True-this is a correct estimate of the worth of God's law-better

than this world's treasure. But is it better to me? Is this my decided choice? How many will inconsiderately acknowledge

its supreme value, while they yet hesitate to relinquish even a

scanty morsel of earth for an interest in it! Do I then habitually

prefer this law of God's mouth to every worldly advantage?

Am I ready to forego every selfish consideration, if it may only

be the means of uniting my heart more closely to the Book of

God? If this be not my practical conviction, I fear I have not

yet opened the mine. But if I can assent to this declaration of

the man of God, I have made a far more glorious discovery

than Archimedes; and therefore may take up his expression of

joyful surprise-'I have found it! I have found it!' What? That

which the world could never have given me-that of which the

world can never deprive me.

And-Lord-help me to prize the law as coming from Your

mouth. Let it be forever written upon my heart. Let me be daily

exploring my hidden treasures. Let me be enriching myself

and all around me with the present possession and interest in

these heavenly blessings.

Yet how affecting is it to see men poor in the midst of great

riches! Often in the world we see the possessor of a large

treasure-without a heart to enjoy it-virtually therefore a

pauper. Oftener still in the Church do we see professors (may

it not be so with some of us?) with their Bibles in their handsyet poor even with the external interest in its "unsearchable

riches." Often also do we observe a want of value for the

whole law or revelation of God's mouth. Some parts are highly

honored to the depreciation of the rest. But let it be

remembered that the whole of Scripture "is given by

inspiration of God and is therefore profitable" for its appointed

end. Oh! beware of resting satisfied with a scanty treasure.

Prayer and diligence will bring out not only "things new," but

the "old" also with a new and brighter glow. Scraping the

surface is a barren exercise. Digging into the affections is a

most enriching employ. No vein in this mine is yet exhausted. And rich indeed shall we be, if we gather only one atom of the

gold each day in prayerful meditation. But as you value your

progress and peace in the ways of God-as you have an eye to

your Christian perfection-put away that ruinous thought-true

as an encouragement to the weak, but false as an excuse to

the slothful-that a little knowledge is sufficient to carry us to

heaven.



by

Charles Bridges

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