September 21
“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” Hebrews 13:5-6.
The Hebrews’ author has some general comments on the conduct of Christians. Our lives should be without covetousness, which is the sinful desire to get what belongs to others. The sinful desire moves one to commit sinful deeds. Coveting can be the sinful desire for our neighbor’s property, our neighbor’s spouse, our neighbor’s employees, or anything that our neighbor rightfully owns. Coveting leads to stealing.
Today, a major form of coveting and stealing involves gambling. Gambling is promoted and publicized as being a game. People go to the casinos with the hope of winning. But the only way anyone can win is if others lose! There cannot be any winners without a multitude of losers! You win at the expense of others, and you give them nothing in return. The winner laughs all the way to the bank!
The apostle adds, “Be content with such things as you have.” To the Philippians, the apostle Paul wrote, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content,” Philippians 4:11. To the young preacher Timothy, Paul wrote, “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows,” 1 Timothy 6:6-10. Coveting wealth and riches can result in falling away from the faith.
As Christians, we should put our trust in God, who promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” This promise is given to us in both the Old and New Testament. God wants us to be sure that He is our heavenly Father who provides for both body and soul. Jesus said, “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you,” Matthew 6:31-33.
We add nothing to our blessings by worrying. God will provide, and He asks us to seek first the kingdom of God – that is, to continue in the faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who has redeemed us by His suffering and death on the cross. He shed His holy, precious blood to wash away all our sins, which includes the sins of coveting and stealing. The Holy Spirit has called us to faith and trust in Jesus. We are assured that we are children of the heavenly Father. We will spend eternity in heaven by the grace and mercy of God.
With faith and trust in the almighty God and in Jesus Christ as God’s Son and our Savior, “We may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (See Psalm 118:6.)
“How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?
‘Fear not, I am with thee, oh, be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.’” Amen.