Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you." So, we can say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?" Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT
Economic volatility is a defining characteristic of our world. Financial fear shows up in many daily conversations and fuels much of the debate about the upcoming election. We are bitterly polarized about the solutions. Inflation, recession, bankruptcy, income inequity, housing market realities are all challenging topics. Every day it seems there are new discussions about Social Security income. Reporting recipients say it’s not even keeping up with the rise in cost of living. All the while, the ads are increasingly attractive, and it is easy to focus on what we don’t have and what we fear we’ll never get.
In the face of all this, how can we “be satisfied with what we have”? God never tells us to do anything we can’t accomplish. He says we can be free of covetousness and envy. We can live generously, caring enough about the needs of others to share what we have. How?
The first most fundamental decision I must make is to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and follow Him unreservedly with my whole heart for my whole life. The second fundamental decision is key for a satisfied life. I must decide to believe always that God is 100% faithful to me. He will never leave me, never abandon me, and never fail me. That will be the tether that keeps me stable in the right place.
When that is my daily confidence, I will see people, money, jobs, fluctuating politics, and everything else with reality, not fear and panic. I know that God will supply my needs, not just financially, but emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. And I don’t nervously wait for God to “come through.” I know the Lord is my Helper. His timeline may not fit mine, but it will be right.
He is my Father AND the King of the Universe. What can mere man do to me?
Of course it doesn’t mean that nothing will ever come against me. But the only thing they can do will be temporary and ineffective. I have an ever-present, all-powerful, all-wise God who has me in His sights always. How can I NOT be satisfied?
- When I feel my life is just up to me, I will never be able to live without worry and anxiety. But when I believe God is my helper, always faithful, always on time, I can be satisfied with what I have. When I need more, God will work with me and handle it.