Today we continue our exploration of money by leaning into the concept of contentment. The first Scripture I’ll highlight comes from the book of Hebrews.
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.”
-Hebrews 13:5
The author of Hebrews lists two mutually exclusive ways to live— you can either love money or you can be content, but you cannot be both at the same time.
To love money is to strive after it as if it was the most important thing in your life. Have you experienced times in your life where the need/want of money has driven your decisions and occupied your mind?
Instead of loving money, Scripture encourages us to live a life of contentment.
To be content is to be in a state of satisfaction. What does it feel like when you are satisfied with all areas of your life— health, relationships, finances, spiritually? To me, this feels like peace.
Being satisfied with one’s life is the purpose of contentment.
Did you notice how the author of Hebrews described contentment?
We are content when we realize, deep in our hearts, that God will never leave or forsake us.
We have God, which means we have everything we truly need.
The love of money naturally moves us away from contentment because we are always focused on getting more. More resources. More possessions. More esteem.
More, more, more.
Sounds exhausting, doesn’t it?
If you struggle with this, try something new: the next time you find yourself wanting more, remind yourself that God is with you, right in that moment. Ask God to move you from a place of need to a place of peace.
Paul shares with us the secret of being content:
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. I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength.
-Philippians 4:12-13
Do you notice how similar this is to the verse in Hebrews?
Our contentment is found solely through God, who gives us the strength to overcome the need for more. As Christians, we find our joy in God alone.
This Sunday is a very special Sunday— it is Visioning Sunday.
We will gather together for a time of prayer to ask for God’s vision for Unity in 2022.
What are God’s hope for this community?
Where is God’s Spirit present in the work of this church?
How is God gently nudging us to engage with the needs of the world?
Join us on Sunday at 9:30 or 11 am for a time of visioning.
-Pastor David
