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Content with what you provide
Jeff WeinkaufHebrews 13: 5-6
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.”
6 So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?”
"Money makes the world go round, the world go round, the world go round" (Emcee from the play Cabaret)
"Money, it's a gas. Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash"
(Pink Floyd - from the song Money)
Money. Yeah...I could use a little more of that.
I think we'd all agree that if it was up to us, we'd like some more.
But is that BAD?
Didn't I hear somewhere that money is "the root of all evil"? That's in the bible right? Won't having money some how taint me and automatically make me undertake nefarious activity?
Actually, nope.
Oh and that verse is 1 Timothy 6:10 where it says "money is A root of all kinds of evil...".
Money like a lot of things, is not in and of it's self bad. Money is a tool, a resource for us to manage. It turns out some people are REALLY good at getting it, and that's not automatically bad. It becomes corrupted when we place it's acquisition at the center of our decision making, or use it unjustly as a lever to get what we want.
So what is Paul warning against in verse 5? Being wealthy? No, he says we should "live lives free from the love of money". He encourages us to be "content with what we have" whatever that is. He's not saying a life free from the love of money is automatically a life of want either. Although interestingly, no matter what we have we always seem to want a little more.
He argues we can be content because God has said "never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.". That's a big statement. We can TRUST that God will meet our needs, because He's promised to.
And God always, always keeps His promises.
There's a similar theme to Paul's writing in Phillipeans 4:11-13
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Look closely. Paul says he know's what it's like to have a little and also have plenty. Either way, his secret is contentment with what he has, and trust that God will provide what he needs.
That's the lesson for me today. Not "wealth BAD" and a magical, biblically sanctioned middle class income where you have juuuust enough for what you need, but are not yet poisoned by having too much is GOOD. Nope. I should be content with what I have. I'm realizing that contentment for me also has the element of submission to God as well. I submit what resources I have to your plan, I am content with what you provide, and when I have a real need, I can say with confidence "the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid".
God thank you for the many blessings and resources you provide for me to steward. May you find me managing each precious gift with great skill and a heart submitted to you. Thank you. Amen
