Christ Can Satisfy – The Presidential Prayer Team

Keep your life free from love of money and be content with what you have. – Hebrews 13:5

When gas prices are high and housing and food costs have sky-rocketed, it is difficult not to have your mind on money. Making ends meet, or even putting food on the table, might be an issue. For those who are living in comfort, money can pose other challenges, including how to protect what you have. The Lord is aware of all of that. His message in today’s verse is to keep money from being the center of your thoughts.

The writer of this last chapter of Hebrews attempts to encourage his audience to live in a way that shows evidence of their trust in God. Exhibit brotherly love, be hospitable to others, and have sympathy for those in bondage (specifically for those imprisoned for their faith in Jesus). Maintain purity in your relationships including marriage. In addition, as one commentary stated it, the evidence of a life lived for Christ is having a “cherished spirit of contentment; a satisfaction in the assurance that God provides, and never leaves His people desolate.”

Educator and author, Jim Berg wrote in his book titled When Trouble Comes, “A life focused on Christ will not crumble in crisis… fellowship with Christ is most crucial.” The apostle Paul exclaimed, “For to me to live is Christ” (Philippians 1:21). Be devoted to Him, receive what He provides, and be assured that He “will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

While you have needs that money can fill, follow the directive found in Deuteronomy 6:5 and love the Lord with all that you have. Pray for those leaders who know God to be devoted to Him and that their lives and yours testify of God’s goodness and care.

Today’s Verse: Hebrews 13:5

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: 1 Timothy 6:3-11

³If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, ⁴he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, ⁵and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. ⁶But godliness with contentment is great gain, ⁷for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. ⁸But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. ⁹But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

¹¹But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.