30 Jun July 17 – Daily Devotional

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON THE BOOK OF HEBREWS

GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN

Hebrews 13:5 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Kenneth Wuest comments that “St. Paul was self-sufficient because he was Christ-dependent.”  He then writes that “. . . the word “content,” therefore, in our Hebrew passage means more than “satisfied.” It refers to the ability of the Christian dependent upon the Holy Spirit, to be independent of outward circumstances.”

When is enough, enough?  How much money, possessions, and stuff must you have before you finally say “I have enough.”  St. Paul wrote, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-14) St. Paul wrote to Timothy, ^“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:6-10)

If you are looking for contentment from your net worth and accumulation of earthly possessions, you will never be content.  There will always be one more thing you will want to possess or another investment to make or a higher net worth to achieve. “. . . godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. . . our hope (is) in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.” (1 Timothy 4:7,10)  Come the last day God will not be interested in your net worth or how many storage units you rent.  It is your faith in His Son that is all He desires.  By grace He gives you that faith through His Word and the Sacraments.

Prayer:   Thanks, and praise to You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for making me rich in faith in Jesus and an heir of heaven.  In His name.  Amen.

Forgive us, Lord, for shallow thankfulness,

For dull content with warmth and sheltered care,

For songs of praise for food and harvest press,

While of Your richer gifts we’re unaware;

Teach us to thank You, Lord, for love and grace,

For life and vision, for a purpose clear,

For Christ Your Son, and for each human face

That shows Your message ever new and near.

Forgive us, Lord, for selfish thanks and praise,

For words that speak at variance with deeds;

Forgive our thanks for walking pleasant ways

Unmindful of a broken brother’s needs:

Teach us, O Lord, true thankfulness divine,

That gives as Christ gave, never counting cost,

That knows no barrier of “yours” and “mine,”

Assured that only what’s withheld is lost.

Forgive us, Lord, for feast that knows not fast,

For joy in things that meanwhile starve the soul,

For walls and wars that hide Your mercies vast

And blur our vision of the Kingdom goal:

Open our eyes to see Your love’s intent,

To know with minds and hearts its depth and height;

May thankfulness be days in service spent,

Reflection of Christ’s life and love and light.

(LSB 788)