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.” (Hebrews 13:5, ESV)
According to one source, the richest man in the world is currently worth $424 billion dollars. It’s difficult for me to imagine that many zeros after a dollar sign. Do I feel envious? Not really. I’m not wealthy, but I am content with the blessings I’ve received from the Lord. Does the richest man have that same contentment?
Contentment is not based on circumstance.
The apostle Paul had none of the things that many would consider a good life. Scripture says nothing of him having wealth or an abundance of possessions. Material goods did not attract him. Paul’s passion was lost souls, not money.
The apostle traveled 10,000 miles or more during his missionary journeys, much of the time on foot or by ship. He endured many hardships through his years of ministry. In II Corinthians 11:25-27, Paul describes the difficulties he faced.
“Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.”
Despite the severity these things, in II Corinthians 12:10, Paul declared, “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” He did not allow circumstances to dictate his level of contentment. Every sacrifice was worth it because all he did was “for the sake of Christ.”
Materialism and covetousness will lead to discontent.
A statement I read many years ago has stayed in my mind. It went something like this: “Enough is always enough, but more than enough is never enough.” In other words, those who constantly pursue more in the way of material goods will never be satisfied. They will always desire even more.
Jesus warned of the danger of this constant pursuit of money and possessions. “And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions’” (Luke 12:15, ESV).
The love of money leads to temptation and becomes a snare.
It is not sinful to have a healthy bank account. The danger comes when we become slaves to that money. Matthew 6:24 tells us, “No one can serve two masters . . . You cannot serve God and money” (ESV). It is not wrong to possess money, but we must never allow money to possess us. When money becomes our master, we are on a path away from God. We cannot worship both.
“For 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.” (I Timothy 6:10, ESV).
We choose whether we are content.
It’s our choice. We can choose to trust in God’s provision regardless of our circumstances. Or we can worry and fret over what we do not have rather than being thankful for what we do have.
In Philippians 4:11, Paul said, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content” (ESV). Paul learned contentment. His life was in God’s hands—the same God who promised to never leave us or forsake us—so there was no need to worry about what was happening around him. Paul made up his mind to be content.
We have the same choice today. We can choose to pursue this world’s riches or choose the contentment that comes by trusting in God’s provision.
