DEVOTION – DAY 560

Hebrews 13:5 “Be Contented”

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 consistently teaches us that contentment rests in our relationship with the Living God. It is not based on prosperity or what money can buy for us. We all can see the truth in the Bible’s teachings because there are times when prosperity can cause many troubles. We know someone who holds a stressful high-powered job and he has to take hypertensive medication to control his high blood pressure. His doctor tells him that if he does not slow down, the possibility of a stroke remains high. We know of people who think that if only they have more money, they would be able to fulfill their dreams, and that they would be happy. But the truth is that happiness is brief, because many people would desire the next latest model handphone, the newest electric car, the latest condo and so on. For such people, they will never find contentment because our consumer-based society will always have new releases and new products that look desirable. This causes them to become dissatisfied with what they already have as they follow after the latest trends.

We know someone who turned his back on a stable job. Instead, he answered God’s call to be a missionary in Thailand. He had little money, but he trusted that the Lord would never leave him nor forsake him. Over the last dozen years, the Lord had faithfully provided for his needs as he ministered to Hmong refugees living in the Bangkok area. He also spent some time reaching out to people groups in Yunnan, China and other places. He may not have a lot of money or worldly possessions but he remains contented. He is contented because he knows his work for the Lord has eternal value, that what he does make an impact on the lives of others who have discovered Jesus Christ in their lives through his efforts at evangelizing. He is able to equip himself with further studies through distance learning because the Lord has faithfully opened doors for him in these areas. This man has found that true contentment relies in a close walk with the Lord Jesus and not in worldly goods and possessions. 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, thank you for your promise to never leave us nor forsake us. You are trustworthy and faithful. Please help us to depend on you alone and not on anything the world has to offer. Please help us to build treasures in heaven, and not treasures on earth that do not last. Draw us close to you always. We humbly pray in the blessed name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

1. Why does the Bible tell us that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil? Discuss.
2. What does true contentment mean to you? Discuss.
3. Why is it important to find contentment in your walk with the Lord and not in material things or money? Discuss.
4. How can you teach your children to this truth about the dangers of love of money and what true contentment means?