Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– Hebrews 13:5
Learn Contentment
Just like the Apostle Paul, contentment doesn’t come naturally. He had to learn it. He wrote, “I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2nd Cor 12:10), so he says, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content” (Phil 4:11). He was contented in his weakness because in Christ he found his strength. Depending on Christ is how he “learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need” (Phil 4:12), and that secret is “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13).
Don’t Love Money
The Apostle Paul never said that all money is evil, or that money is the root of all evil. That’s Satan’s place. Rather, Paul wrote, “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils,” and sadly, “It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1st Tim 6:10). We can have money, but there is the danger that money can have us. We can own our possessions, but our possessions can own us?
God Will Not Leave You
The author of Hebrews reminds us to keep our “life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb 13:5), so “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1st Tim 6:6), but how can we keep our lives free from the love of money? It is by our love for God. Our love for Him should be exhibited by our trust in Him, and our heavenly Father will not ever leave us, even if our money does. Money talks; to me it mostly says, “Goodbye.” How about you? The good news is that God never will say goodbye.
God Will Not Forsake You
As God told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9), and “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you” (Joshua 1:5). Neither will He “leave you nor forsake you” (Heb 13:5). God has not changed, has He?
Conclusion
If we learn to be content in life, we are telling God, that I trust You Lord; I won’t love money but You because You own all things; I know You will never leave me and that You will never forsake me, even though I have You many times. That’s why You are such a good God, full of compassion and mercy, giving us what we do not deserve (called grace) and not giving us the wrath we do (called mercy).
