Hebrews 13:1-6: a reflection

1Let brotherly love continue. 2Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for in doing so, some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3Remember those who are in bonds, as bound with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you are also in the body. 4Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled; but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. 5Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.” 6So that with good courage we say, “The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Among the practical exhortations that close Hebrews is a call to a particular freedom: Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have. And notice the ground given for this contentment: for he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. The reason we can be free from the love of money and content with what we have is that we have God, who has promised never to leave us. Our security is not in money, but in the God who is always with us.

Notice how contentment is grounded: in God's abiding presence, not in our possessions. The love of money, the craving for more, often springs from a search for security; we think that more money, more possessions, will make us safe. But the passage grounds contentment elsewhere: in God's promise never to leave or forsake us. Because we have God, who will never leave us, we can be free from the anxious love of money and content with what we have. Our security rests on his presence, not on our possessions.

That grounding of contentment is one we need, for the love of money and the craving for more are strong. We can look to money and possessions for the security only God can give, and so be captive to the love of money, never content, always craving more. But God has promised never to leave us; and if we have him, we have a security that no amount of money can give, and no loss can take away. Be free, then, from the love of money, and content with what you have, not because possessions do not matter, but because your security rests on God, who has promised never to leave or forsake you. When the craving for more tempts you, remember that you have God, who will never leave you; that is a security greater than any wealth. Ground your contentment in his abiding presence, and be free from the love of money, resting in the God who has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Lord, among the closing exhortations of Hebrews is a call to be free from the love of money, content with what I have, grounded in your promise: I will never leave you nor forsake you. Show me how contentment is grounded in your abiding presence, not in my possessions. The love of money, the craving for more, often springs from a search for security; I think that more money, more possessions, will make me safe. But your word grounds contentment elsewhere: in your promise never to leave or forsake me. Because I have you, who will never leave me, I can be free from the anxious love of money and content with what I have. My security rests on your presence, not on my possessions. I can look to money and possessions for the security only you can give, and so be captive to the love of money, never content, always craving more. But you have promised never to leave me; and if I have you, I have a security no amount of money can give, and no loss can take away. Help me be free from the love of money, and content with what I have, resting my security on you, who have promised never to leave or forsake me. When the craving for more tempts me, help me remember that I have you, Lord, a security greater than any wealth. Ground my contentment in your abiding presence.