City Life Starter

Written by Scott Fiddler

The Word

1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you also are in the body. 4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for God will judge the immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, “I will never fail you nor forsake you.” 6 Hence we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid; what can man do to me?”

Hebrews 13:1-6 (RSV)

Reflection

The first twelve chapters of Hebrews speak at length of the benefits of the New Covenant over the old, the superiority of Jesus over the Old Testament priest, and the superiority of His sacrifice over the sacrifice of animals. The first twelve chapters are overwhelmingly theological, but the first six verses of Chapter 13 are highly practical. A healthy walk with the Lord requires both.

The practical advice of Chapter 13 begins with what one might call a laundry list of love. We are to love other Christians (v. 1), demonstrate love to strangers through hospitality (v. 2), prisoners through prison ministry (v. 3), and our spouses by our fidelity (v. 4). 

Then, highlighting its importance by its contrast, we are told of something we are not to love: money.  Not only are we not to love it, we are to make sure our character is free from the love of it. We are to search our souls and who we are to the core to ensure there is no trace of the love of money.

Application

Prohibitions, though, are always more effective when accompanied by affirmative action, and here we are given one. We are told not to love money but to be content with what we have.

Contentment is a counterweight to covetousness. The person who gives his attention to those things he has, will have little left for those he does not. And the more we are thankful for what we have the less we will want what other people have. It is a practical solution for a prevalent problem. 

My father once told me early in my career that it doesn’t matter how much money you have, there will always be someone with more. It is something I have thought of many times since then. It is a statement that is true for every person in the world except one. How much better then is it to learn to be content?

Prayer

Lord, help me always to be content with what I have and thankful to You for it. Amen.