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NASB | Hebrews 13:5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 13:5 Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed--be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, "I WILL NEVER [under any circumstances] DESERT YOU [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], NOR WILL I FORSAKE or LET YOU DOWN or RELAX MY HOLD ON YOU [assuredly not]!" [Josh 1:5] |
Bible Question:
Also read Php 4:10-13, 1Ti 6:6-10, 17-19 How can we be content with so many bills to pay? How can we stop loving money? -How can we still use it? Do we believe God will never desert or forsake us? -Why? Do we let the Lord be our helper? -Isn't He our Lord - how is that possible? Steve |
Bible Answer: Steve - How are really content? First, by keeping our mind stayed on Him as Isaiah 26:3 tells us - He'll keep those whose mind is stayed on Him in perfect peace - because they trust in Him. TRUST is key -- Prov 3:5-6 tells us to Trust in the Lord w/ all of our hearts and lean not to our own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all of our ways, and He will direct our paths. I don't think anyone likes working hard everyday and then giving all the money away to the bill collectors, but if that is what I am focusing on, then I will never be content. But, if I truly trust in the Lord and work the Word, I will have peace because His peace and joy goes beyond my circumstances. If my focus and meditation is on Him, I am above my circumstances. Think of the story of Peter walking on the water - as long as his eyes were on Jesus, He was ON TOP of the water (the circumstances), even while the storm was raging (again, circumstances and trials of life). But as soon as he began to look at the water (focus on his circumstances), he began to sink. This is what happens to us. We focus on our circumstances and take our eyes off of Jesus, and we begin to SINK into our situations (UNDER the circumstances, as we say). But, we have to learn to really TRUST in His Word - Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you - Matt 6:33. I think the bottom line is that the reason we don't practice the Word as we ought is because we don't really believe it. You can always tell how much a person believes in the Word by how much they actually LIVE it. It's all about your level of faith. For instance, the question of, "Why do we believe God will never leave us or forsake us?" The answer is because He said so in His Word (Josh 1:5, Deut 31:6,8, 1 Chron 28:20) and He does not lie (Heb 6:18, Titus 1:2)You have to have faith enough to believe in that. We drive across a bridge, never giving a second thought that it's going to collapse or turn a door knob with full confidence that the door will open - why? Because we TRUST, BELIEVE, and have FAITH that it is going to do what it's supposed to do. We should be able to TRUST, BELIEVE, and have FAITH in God just as easily, it should be just as natural to us as ordinary things. As for loving money, the Bible does say that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim 6:10) and that you cannot serve God and mammon/money (Matt 6:24 and Luke 16:13). But, you don't have to LOVE money to use it. I think the line is crossed when a person begins to love money more than they do God and everything else in their lives. Then it becomes an idol. You'll do anything for it. Your whole focus in life is how to get more money. One thing to remember is that everything we have belongs to God and not us - including money. We are stewards over it, meaning that we need to manage it responsibly and wisely. We need to control it instead of it controlling us. I'm not sure I understand your last question, but I hope this helps on the others. |