Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you." Hebrews 13:5
Fill in the blank to this statement: "If only I had _________, then I would be content." What is the first thing that came to your mind when you read that statement? Whether we answer this question with the perfect job, a spouse, the iPhone 11, better friendships, or a better financial situation, the majority of us probably have something in our minds that will bring us contentment if only we had it. Many of us today struggling with discontentment. Scripture teaches us, however, that if we are looking to anything besides God to bring us contentment, then that thing will ultimately fail us. This is true as we consider our finances, too. As we think about ways to be better stewards of our finances, one way we can steward them well is to be content with what God has given us.
The author of Hebrews calls believers to live a life of contentment in God rather than searching for satisfaction in things of the world in Hebrews 13. As he gives final instructions to his readers, he writes, "Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you" (Hebrews 13:5). The command to be satisfied with what God has provided also comes the assurance that God is faithful. He is the only one who can truly satisfy. In the end, it will not matter how much money we accumulated or how many material possessions we had. These earthly things will fail us. God will not.
What have you been looking to satisfy you? Have you been looking to God, or have you been looking to earthly things to fulfill you? Rest assured that if you look for satisfaction in a larger paycheck, a bigger house, the iPhone 11, that new car, or that new item of clothing, you will find yourself empty. Only God can bring us true contentment. Will you choose to place your contentment in Him and be satisfied with what He has given you today?
We can fight against discontentment by taking note of all of the things God has blessed us with. Pull out your journal or notebook and begin making a list of the different ways God has blessed you. Has He blessed you with a stable job? Write it down. Has He blessed you with the finances to travel a little bit? Write it down. Has He blessed you with enough food to feed you and your family throughout the week? Write it down. As you make your list, thank God for all of the blessings that He has given you.
Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.
Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are immoral and those who commit adultery.
Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,
“I will never fail you.
I will never abandon you.”
So we can say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper,
so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?”
Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.
