Are you ready to say this week’s memory verses?
Hebrews 13:5–6
[5] 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.” [6] So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?” (ESV)
How did you do memorizing the passage this week? Maybe you could say this verse to a family member or friend today. I even challenge you to submit a video of yourself saying the passage in the comment section below this article on Facebook!
As we finish this week’s focus, let’s look more in depth at our memory passage. We’ll once again see the way contentment helps us to battle fear.
Getting to the Heart
Recently I decided to try intermittent fasting along with my wife, and our goal was to eat only between noon and 8pm each day. We did that in order to help us maintain our health during a time when we needed it. Overall we did feel healthier and it helped us deal with some underlying health issues. But I also realized something about myself: I can very easily covet food! My stomach might have been full, or at least not experiencing any hunger pangs yet I wanted to eat! It’s amazing how I could fill myself with good, satisfying food yet still want more and more. While that time of intermittent fasting is mostly behind me, the lessons I learned through it stick with me. Covetousness: the desire to have more, is always with us.
The Hebrew church had experienced tremendous loss amidst persecution. The writer of this letter has acknowledged that the people “joyfully accepted the plundering of [their] property” (Heb. 10:34). They endured this by faith that in Christ they already had a better possession and one that would last! But by chapter 13 the author of this letter urges his brothers and sisters not to turn back to a life driven by the desire for more and more in this life. It’s not wrong to be wealthy. What he actually says is to “Keep your life free from the love of money.” This is the drive to get security, protection and prominence from what we can get. Yesterday I mentioned that these are fears, either that we will lose what we have or miss what we want. At the root of this is unbelief. Lack of faith in God. Believing that He is unreliable, untrustworthy, or even selfish – keeping from us what we need.
The way to battle these unbelieving thoughts is to repent of them, and to turn to the truth about God, the same way the writer of Hebrews did. Do you notice how he turned to scripture to counsel the believers? He quotes Joshua 1:5, Psalm 118:6 and Psalm 56:4 and 11.
Friends, this is the way to cultivate the contented faith to battle fear: hold on with spiritual tenacity to the promises of God! Here are a few to help you:
- My God is absolutely good, and He does only what is best for me. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28, ESV)
- God is my Father, and He supplies what I truly need before I ever ask. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. (Luke 12:30, ESV)
- What I have currently is more than I deserve. [The Patriarch Jacob’s prayer] I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant… (Genesis 32:10, ESV)
- My Lord is absolutely in charge, and I am His servant, entitled to what He wills for my life. I will not compare my life to another’s. Remembering the words of the Lord to Peter, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (John 21:22, ESV)
- My hope, my future, my people, my treasure, my home, my country and my God are in the Kingdom to come, not in this life. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. [16] But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:15–16, ESV)
- My God is with me all the time, and He is my Helper. So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6, ESV)
Let’s talk it over:
- Covetousness is a hard sin to spot. We don’t typically confess it. But like I’ve had to learn how easily I can covet food, have you seen how easily you can covet things? What are things that we often covet? Why do we covet those things?
- I’ve listed many truths and scripture passages today to get you started in meditation on God. Now, what are some of your favorite promises in scripture passages that help you battle your unbelief of fear and covetousness?
Prayer:
Blessed Father in heaven, most holy God, we submit to You today, acknowledging Your supreme authority in our lives, Your will to do according to all You please. Yet we believe the promises You give us in Your Word that You are near to the broken-hearted, that You love us, Your people, with an unquenchable love, and that all You do is for our good, all thanks to Christ our Savior and Lord. We love You! Help us today to be faithful to You in all things. Amen.
Worship in Song:
“Hallelujah! All I have is Christ!
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life!”