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.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” (ESV)

Ok, let’s be honest. When we hear anything in a religious setting about money, we usually recoil and shut down. There’s a good chance you see this devo is about money and have already started skimming. And guess what, this aversion is nothing new to mankind; there’s a reason this topic was written about, even 2,000 years ago.  

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The author of Hebrews spends time in the first four verses of chapter 13 laying out some moral guidelines, do’s and don'ts that everyone should live by, especially Christians. Things like love one another, welcome people you don’t know, remember those who are in prison, don’t sleep around; you know, basic stuff. After all that, he lands on this money thing. Why? Does loving money make you a bad Christian?

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I often re-read a passage in different versions to try to get a better grasp on it. So, let's re-read it in the New King James Version: “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.” Right off, there is a big difference: one says money, the other says covetousness. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, covetousness is “the feeling of having a strong desire for the things that other people have.”

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This flips the script, as it were, which Jesus did all the time. He would encounter someone and speak to their heart, not simply their actions or interactions.  

We can have some strong reactions to anything about money, and I’m no exception. Maybe try this: if we look at ourselves as toddlers, compared to a God who was and is and is to come, we have so little life experience. We’re like a toddler who so badly wants to stick their fingers into these little holes all over the walls (power outlets), not knowing that it would hurt and cause immense damage. We have a God who loves us very much and wants us to grow and prosper (Jer. 29:11). And like a parent, he doesn’t want us to fall into things that will hurt us mentally, physically, or spiritually.  

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Is money a bad thing? I say no; but placing money as an idle over God or coveting something more that is not in God’s plan for you creates a calloused heart. When we start to step outside of our covetousness and see that we have a Father who loves us more that we could imagine, we begin breaking down the callouses and start living in the freedom of a God who promises to provide for you!

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When our hearts are impacted with the sludge of covetousness, we can feel lonely and isolated in our relationship with God. We start doing things in our own power, which drives us right back into unhealthy cycles of coveting other’s stuff. When we root out this sin of coveting, we find a Father who never forsakes us and has never stopped providing for us. When we start looking for it, we see his provision poured out in abundance!

Abba, you are so good! You know my needs before I do. Father, help me root out where I covet the things that I place as idols above you. Break down the hardness of my heart to see you have never and will never leave me hanging and that you have all I need. I thank you, and I love you! Amen.