From the heart of the
pastor:
“Let your
character be free from the love of money, being
content with what you have; for He Himself has said,
‘I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake
you’” (Heb. 13:5).
The worldly love money
because their lives are measured by the abundance of
their possessions. Worldliness responds to
advertisements designed to create discontent. The
world promises much while bearing little. Are you
more fearful of the world’s greetings than its
sneers? Is your character free from the love of
money?
Martyred flesh is most
unfettered from the love of money. Dives’ grave
contained his bones, not his wealth (Lk. 16:19ff.).
He had never died to himself. On the other hand,
Jesus’ tomb contained neither His bones nor His
worldly wealth because the Son of Man had no where
to lay His head (Lk. 9:58). Jesus’ lifestyle
witnessed to a character free from the love of
money.
How do you know yourself
free from the love of money? If you are free from
the love of money you will be content with what you
have. If you are not free from the love of money
you will experience discontentedness.
Are you content with
what you have? Paul says, “I have learned to be
content in whatever circumstances I am” (Phil.
4:11). Soldiers of the cross are content with
Christ’s cross (II Ti. 2:3f.). They remain in God’s
army following their General who leads as a cloud by
day and a pillar of fire by night. He is only
discontent when he fails to follow his Commander’s
commandments.
Discontentment is the
progeny of unbelief. Discontent swells in mass and
bitterness in direct proportion to the extent it is
fertilized. Discontent entombs its adherents.
Scores of discontented folks possess filled
portfolios and anxious restless spirits.
Paul said, “Godliness
actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied
by contentment” (I Ti. 6:6). Eve was discontent
with mere godliness. She refused to trust God and
it cost her God’s garden. Moses and Nehemiah
trusted God so much that both of them journeyed away
from position, power and possessions. They gained
God’s eternal favor.
God says, “I will never
desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.”
- Joseph believed God
(Gen. 50:20)
- Caleb believed God (Nu.
14:24)
- Joshua believed God
(Josh. 24:15)
- Samuel believed God
(I Sam. 3:10)
Fear is the first cousin
of discontentment. David says, “The Lord is for me;
I will not fear; what can man do to me? It is
better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in
princes” (Ps. 118:6,9).
