“CONTENT“-{Heb 13:5-6}. What would be one thing to keep us from being content? The writer of Hebrews gives the answer- GREED, COVETOUSNESS! While contentment means “enough, sufficient, implying satisfaction…” greed says “not enough, not sufficient, not satisfied!” The writer says, “keep your life FREE from the LOVE of money, and be content with what you have.” The two commands are positive- be free, be content!
And he gives the reason why, “BECAUSE….”
Why can we be free and be content? “BECAUSE He has said…“SAID,” -is a verb, and is grammatically -He DID say at one point in time, DOES Say presently, WILL Say- this is irrevocable! Unchanging, never to be withdrawn. Guaranteed! What is irrevocable?
These Two promises;
1.The Promise of His Presence– He will never forsake or leave you. There are five negatives in the original to proclaim one Glorious positive, The Eternal Guarantee – God is with you forever!
2.The Promise of His Help – The word “Help,” is a beautiful word it speaks of “upon hearing a CRY RUNS to assist the one in distress.” How beautiful is that. And it is used of God and found also in Hebrews 4:15-16. Come confidently to His throne to RECEIVE mercy, grace and HELP in time of need! Therefore, you need not fear man, the worst they can do can never separate you from Him.
Guard your heart from greed, covetousness, because it nullifies true contentment. It offers the delusion that there is internal contentment apart from Jesus Christ… and we continually have to look at the MOTIVES we have towards money and at times have to pull the weeds of greed from our thinking and desires as they are false hopes- hopes of security, satisfaction when in reality they are not.
The writer of Ecclesiastes put it this way, “Whoever LOVES money never has enough; whoever LOVES wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.” -{Ecc 5:10}
Note, it is not money but the LOVE of it. The bent of your life pursuing it above all else, including Him. The LOVE of materialism replacing and relegating LOVE FOR GOD and others which is the first and greatest commandment! It is characteristics of the lost in the last days; ” But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of self, LOVERS of money,…rather than lovers of God”-{2 Tim 3:1-4}. “…LOVERS of money… rather than LOVERS OF God! Greed, Covetousness effects relationships also, it causes Conflicts. “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You COVET but you cannot get what you want, so you QUARREL and FIGHT…” -{James 4:1-2}-
“A GREEDY person stirs up STRIFE…” -{Prov 28:25}.
“…But those who want to get Rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. FOR The LOVE OF MONEY Is a Root Of All sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pieced themselves with many griefs.” -{1 Timothy 6:9-10}.
- See the danger? It displaces, dishonors God. It causes division, conflict in relationships! It causes some to fall into temptations harmful desires plunge people into ruin and destruction, away from the faith and many griefs- so is the commentary, warning to those who place materialism FIRST in their thinking, pursuits. God warns us of it’s Dangers because He loves us!
This does not mean you cannot seek to better your income. But as you look in Scripture, money for providing for your family; plus to invest in Kingdom business, which includes helping those in need etc. It is all about the MOTIVATION Of the heart, that we have to guard continually!
Beware “The Weeds of Greed!” It’s is a CONTENTMENT Robber!
Discontent? Is it because of Greed?
Living among and feeding on “The Weeds Of Greed” = Discontentment! Guaranteed! Why? Your pursuit is not Him!
We have to guard our thinking, motivations, pursuits!
God wants you to BE CONTENT and has made the Provision through His Son...
1.- BE FREE FROM GREED
2. – BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE
“BECAUSE…”
3. – GOD IS WITH YOU
4. – GOD IS YOUR HELP.
“Make sure that your character is 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, “so that we confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” -{Hebrews 13:5-6}
Contentment is found in a Person! He is “enough, sufficient, with the implication satisfies.”
Beware “The Weeds of Greed!”