DEVOTION – DAY 240

Hebrews 13:5 “God Or Money”

 

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

 

The author of Hebrews offers us sound advice. He tells us not to be focused on the love of money because when we do that, we will lack contentment. People who love money will never be happy with what they have because they will always want more money. Money becomes their idol and there is no place for God in their lives.

 

In the recent news, there was an article about the famous Hong Kong Cantopop singer, Eason Chan. It was reported that he suffered a panic attack when he realized that his bank account had only US$4.3million left. He confessed that in the last two years, he had almost no income because he could not perform in concerts, or lend his name to product endorsements because of the Covid-19 pandemic in Hong Kong and China and elsewhere in the world. Despite not having any income, he did not cut back on his lifestyle and continued to spend money like before. He estimated that he spends about US$2million a year to support his lifestyle and that was why he had a panic attack when he realized that his savings was falling. His comments caused his fans to poke fun at him because the majority of people may never earn US$4 million in their entire lifetimes. Many thought Eason Chan was unrealistic. This is what happens when someone puts so much focus on money that they lose a sense of reality. Eason Chan was an example of someone who does not know God and who is not contented.

 

On the other hand, we know someone who leads a simple lifestyle. She loves God and she trusts that God will never leave her nor forsake her. She trusts that God will provide for her needs. Even though she has modest means, she remains contented. She is healthy. She has a job. She has a place to stay and she has many friends in Church that she regards as her church family. She has found the secret to contentment. Her contentment comes from her relationship with the Living God who loves and cares for her. If we compare her to Eason Chan, she is more blessed than he is.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for your promise that you will never leave us nor forsake us. Thank for your Word that teaches us to find contentment in our relationship with you, and not from things of this world. Help us not to love money and things more than we love you. In the wonderful name of the Lord Jesus we pray. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. How do you consider the role of money in your life? Do you see it as a tool, a means to an end, or do you look to it as your source of security? Discuss.
  2. Why do many people spend their lives trying to save more money only to leave it all behind when they die? Discuss.
  3. What does this devotion teach you about true contentment?