A Stroll Through Hebrews

Prosperity versus Contentment

Now the subject of the letter turns to a subject that is very relevant to the 21st century church, especially in our Western prosperous country. “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" (Hebrews 13:4). Actually, this has been God’s advice to us since the beginning of time. Remember what He said to Jacob when he was running for his life from his brother Esau? “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you” (Genesis 28:15). In fact, all of the Biblical writers have given the same advice, because our fallen human nature is by its very nature selfish and deceitful. Here is what some of them say –

Solomon – “Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich” (Proverbs 28:6).

Jeremiah – "Shall you reign because you enclose yourself in cedar?

Did not your father eat and drink,

And do justice and righteousness?

Then it was well with him.

He judged the cause of the poor and needy;

Then it was well.

Was not this knowing Me?" says the Lord.

"Yet your eyes and your heart are for nothing but your covetousness,

For shedding innocent blood,

And practicing oppression and violence" (Jeremiah 22:15–17).

Jesus – “And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" (Luke 12:15).

Paul – But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints” (Ephesians 5:3).

James – “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"? (James 4:1–5).

In other words, the very core of covetousness is not being content with what you already have but wanting also what someone else has. This might be wanting someone else’s wife or husband, some possession or skill, or anything that one’s passion might desire. In fact, our Western philosophy of capitalism is built on the foundation of greed and selfish competition. I have heard a significant number of people repeat a popular phrase: “He who dies with the most toys, wins!”

Now don’t misunderstand me, I am not proposing another form of government because any form of government run by fallen mankind will be flawed at its core. But what I am suggesting is that we need to realize that as Christians we have been called to live by a higher standard – God’s standard. And because He personally has promised us, His people who believe and trust in Him “to never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6b), we can indeed boldly declare

"The Lord is my helper;

I will not fear.

What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:6b)

I can personally testify with King David

“I have been young, and now am old;

Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,

Nor his descendants begging bread” (Psalm 37:25).

We can let go of our pride and covetousness and deny ourself, and take up our cross, and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). Because He does indeed have our back and will never let us down.