Endorsements
While the world, including many Christians, chases the siren song of happiness and fulfillment in culture, Andrew Davis reminds us what the apostle Paul taught us: true contentment can only be found in Christ. This book is powerful. It is needed. And it is so biblically relevant in a world that desperately needs this message.
Thom Rainer , president and CEO, Church Answers; author of I Am a Church Member , Autopsy of a Deceased Church , and Simple Church
In the 1640s, Jeremiah Burroughs wrote an extraordinarily influential book titled The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment . Andrew Davis has written his own bookthis is not a mere update of a Christian classicbut its theme and stance are similar. In a world characterized by so much discontent, some of it serious and some of it laughably trivial, the virtue of contentment is a rare treasure. Contentment in Christian perspective must never be confused with mere stoicism, proud self-denial, determined self-sufficiency, or condescending aloofness. Rather, it is the product of knowing Christ so well, and trusting him so fully, that the vicissitudes of life, no matter how dire, cannot hold a candle to the joy of steadfastly trusting our heavenly Father. This is a book to savor and reread, and then pass on to others.
D. A. Carson , research professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
Andy Daviss meditations on Scripture are always a gift to the church. This new book is no exception. Davis unpacks Scriptures teaching on contentment in a way that is pastoral and theologically faithful. Let this book guide you to a deeper faith in the gospel and a richer experience of contentment and hope in Gods providence.
R. Albert Mohler Jr. , president, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Years ago I was profoundly impacted in reading Jeremiah Burroughss The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment . It felt like I was being discipled in a major dimension of the Christian life I had barely heard about by a Christian from another generation. Burroughs is truly among the best of the Puritan writers. I was even more excited when I saw that Andy, a thoughtful pastor, profound thinker, and great communicator, had taken up the task of reexpressing this essential and powerful Christian truth for a contemporary audience. If there was ever a time a distracted and exhausted church needed this message, it is today. Burroughss book became a classic for a reason. I think Andys book will become a classic for the same.
J. D. Greear , pastor, The Summit Church, Raleigh-Durham, NC; president, Southern Baptist Convention
I had never heard of the Puritan pastor Jeremiah Burroughs or his work The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment until I was asked to read this book by Andy Davis. That was my loss. Drawing upon this superb treatise and Scripturein particular, the apostle Paulpastor Davis leads us on a fruitful journey into the delights and blessings of finding true contentment in Christ. There is joy immeasurable to be found in Christ, and this book will help you find it.
Daniel L. Akin , president, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Andy has put his finger squarely on one of the biggest issues society faces today: we live in an age of discontent. Im not talking about impatience or shrinking attention spans. There is a deeper, underlying ache in growing numbers of people that speaks to dissatisfaction and a resignation that life is not what it should be and that more is never enough. This problem plagues Christians and non-Christians alike, but for the believer, things can and should be different. Andy unlocks the keys to Christ-centered contentment and how we can align our desires with Gods. Every believer will benefit from studying the principles and practices shared here.
Kevin Ezell , president, North American Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention
I recommend everything Andy Davis has written. He is one of the godliest men I know. He not only believes what he writes; he also lives it. Both biblical teaching and personal experience flow from every page of this helpful, insightful, convicting, encouraging, and edifying book. I enthusiastically recommend it to everyone reading these words. It will deepen your relationship with Christ, increase your faith in a good and sovereign God, sweeten your sorrows, and put fresh resolve in your steps toward heaven. Thats quite a claim, but Im sure of it. Youll seldom read a more timely book than this one.
Donald S. Whitney , professor of biblical spirituality and associate dean, School of Theology, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; author of Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life and Praying the Bible
Sooner or later everyone asks, Is there anything more to life? In this book, pastor Andrew Davis shows why. In vivid narrative and clear teaching, this book shows us the roots of our chronic discontent, no matter what we have or dont have, and then points us to the solution. If you think this book is a stop whining and be grateful scold, you are quite wrong. Instead, this book shows us how to find contentment and, with it, something beyond contentment, joy. If you, like me, wrestle with discontent, then you will be glad you found this book.
Russell Moore , president, The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention
A gifted teacher explains, illustrates, and applies. Andy Davis is an incredibly gifted teacher who has given the church a jewel with this book. Daviss treatment of contentment has challenged and encouraged my soul. It will yours as well.
Timothy K. Beougher , Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth and associate dean, Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Title Page
Copyright Page
2019 by Andrew M. Davis
Published by Baker Books
a division of Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.bakerbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2019
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meansfor example, electronic, photocopy, recordingwithout the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4934-1631-8
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2016
Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible, copyright 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible and CSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Scripture quotations labeled KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.
Scripture quotations labeled NASB are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
Contents
Cover
Endorsements
Title Page
Copyright Page
Part 1: The Secret of Contentment
1. A Rare Jewel in a Discontented World
2. Paul Teaches the Secret of Christian Contentment
Part 2: How to Find Contentment
3. The Definition of Christian Contentment
4. Contentment and Providence
5. The Mysterious Mindset of Contentment
6. How Christ Teaches Contentment
Part 3: The Value of Contentment
7. The Excellence of Christian Contentment