DEVOTION – DAY 573

Hebrews 13:5 “Be Content In The Lord”

Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

The Bible repeatedly warns us against the love of money. However, the Bible does not have anything against money itself. God knows that money has a place in this world’s economy and marketplace. God knows we need money to get essentials like food, clothing and a roof over our heads. In reality, it is God who provides us the money so that we can get our basic essentials. This is because God loves and cares for His people. But money can never be our sole focus in life – when that happens, money replaces God as the most important thing in our lives. 

There are many people today that ends up loving money and considers making money their sole purpose in life. This leads to corruption, excessive hoarding of material wealth, obsession with branded goods, greed and consumerism. It is a chasing after material things and money thinking it will satisfy us but in reality, it leaves us empty and dissatisfied. It also leads us away from God.

We know someone who was walking close with the Lord. Then, he started a business that did well and it provided him with a comfortable income for him and his family. He wanted to expand his business into the China market. It required to team up with a woman who was a Chinese citizen to set up their company. Money and business success became his focus and he spent more time in China then at home with his family. Eventually, he divorced his wife and left his family to set up a new life with his business partner. Today, he is no longer worshipping the Lord. He is an example of someone who allowed the love of money to draw him away from God.

We also know someone who was willing to let opportunities to make more money to pass because he knew that such opportunities required more demands on his time with his family and with God. He was willing to be content with what God had provided for him and his family. Today, he is still faithfully serving God after many years.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for warning us against love of money and to be content with what we have. Thank you for promising that you will never leave or forsake us. We humbly pray in the great name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. Why does God warn us against the love of money? Discuss. Why do many people ignore Good’s warning?
  2. Have you ever fallen for this temptation to accumulate a lot of money? Share what happened?
  3. What steps can you take to ensure that you are content with what God has provided for you and your family?
  4. How does God’s promise that He will never leave or forsake you help you to serve God only and nothing else?