Hebrews 13:5-6
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.”
Over the centuries, Christian theologians have recognized that the Law is laid out in great detail throughout the first 5 books of the Old Testament. But, the Law is found in summary form in the Ten Commandments. These ten laws offer practical ways in which we can express the gratitude we have for our salvation. A first glance at these commandments might cause us to think that they are all radically different from each other. Many theologians have noted that one of these forbidden sins is actually the root of many evils. The sin is covetousness. A 17th century theologian wrote of our verses today, “covetousness is an inordinate desire to enjoy more money than we have, or than God is pleased to give us.” As with all of the ten commandments, covetousness has a broader application including inordinate desires for anything that we do not have. Easily, ungodly desires for people other than one’s own spouse lead to adultery. Coveting another’s wealth leads to theft. Desiring power and prestige can lead to lies, murder, idolatry, and other forms of sin. The warning against covetousness is the point that we should understand from today’s verse. We must be content with what we have and be free from the love of money. A desire to have more than God has given us is what leads us into all kinds of wickedness. If we are not careful, covetousness can become one of those things that causes us to stumble and to be disqualified from the race of faith. But, God in his mercy has given us this warning to cultivate the perseverance of the saints. The solution is, simply, to be content with what we have. For the great salvation that has been granted to us is the only thing that we will ever need. Are you content with what you have? Or is there something that is not yours that you covet? In prayer, ask the Lord to reveal those things that you covet. Take some steps to avoid this sin such as finding accountability, avoiding certain tempting situations, and giving up those things that you have acquired by way of coveting.
Source: S C Ball April 29, 2024
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