The Salt of Christian Contentment

When I was a new Christian, a book called The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, written by the Puritan Jeremiah Burroughs, made a big impression on me. In it Burroughs lists a series of lessons Christ uses to teach his people contentment. He calls the first of these lessons "the lesson of self-denial." Though Burroughs admits "it is a hard lesson," he reminds us that it is the most basic teaching of the faith: “Whoever has not learned the lesson of the cross,” he says, “has not learned his ABC in Christianity.” Self-denial, in other words, is a kindergarten lesson. "[I]f you mean to be Christians at all you must buckle to this or you can never be Christians."

Let that sink in.

Burroughs is not just saying we can't be content unless we deny ourselves—he's saying we can’t even be Christians unless we do. What gives him the right to make such a harsh statement? Is he accurately representing the heart of the gospel? There's only one way to find out. Let’s turn to the words of Christ:

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10: 34-39

Again:

“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:21-26

And again:

“. . . whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. ‘Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Luke 14:25-34

In Matthew 5, we see that Jesus follows his Beatitudes with this same salt metaphor: “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet” (Mt. 5:13). In other words, salt that isn’t salty is useless. If we are trying to live the Christian life without self-denial, we will be as effective for seasoning as sand.

If anything, Christ’s statements are harder than Burroughs’. But there is good reason for that. The Christian life is a matter of life and death. If we value this life more than the life to come, we lose both.

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.” (Col. 3:1-6).

If Christ is our life, then he is everything to us and he is enough for us. To be satisfied with Him and content with his provision for us in this life is the essence of what it means to be a Christian.