DAY 34: A godly life
Reading: Hebrews 13:5-6, 15-16
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?”
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
We share a common heritage with the first century world in which this
letter is set. No doubt the message has been true in every generation,
how can we remain pure in a materialistic world? It is easy to say ‘let
us sit light to our possessions’. It is always harder to do. The writer to
the Hebrews encourages his listeners to keep themselves free from the
love of money. Even in the first century world I’m sure that was more
difficult to do than it sounds.
As we work hard, give generously, and are not covetous of other
people and what they may own, so we begin to put into practice the
godliness that comes through contentment in and with God and His
provision. We have seen over the past few weeks, God cares for us
in a way that we will never be able to fully comprehend. Echoing the
passage from Romans 12 it is through offering ourselves in worship
that we become a renewed people. Transformed by the saving love
expressed in Jesus we can respond with the warm, loving generous
response that comes from experiencing God’s love.
For further reading: Colossians 3:1-14 - Paul's instructions for holy living.
To ponder: As you think about how you might serve God, what is your
goal?
To Pray Lord, keep me free from a love of material possessions by an
awareness of how I might use them to benefit others. Amen.
‘Keep your lives free from the love of money’ v5
‘Do not neglect to do good’ v16 (NRSV)
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?”
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
We share a common heritage with the first century world in which this
letter is set. No doubt the message has been true in every generation,
how can we remain pure in a materialistic world? It is easy to say ‘let
us sit light to our possessions’. It is always harder to do. The writer to
the Hebrews encourages his listeners to keep themselves free from the
love of money. Even in the first century world I’m sure that was more
difficult to do than it sounds.
As we work hard, give generously, and are not covetous of other
people and what they may own, so we begin to put into practice the
godliness that comes through contentment in and with God and His
provision. We have seen over the past few weeks, God cares for us
in a way that we will never be able to fully comprehend. Echoing the
passage from Romans 12 it is through offering ourselves in worship
that we become a renewed people. Transformed by the saving love
expressed in Jesus we can respond with the warm, loving generous
response that comes from experiencing God’s love.
For further reading: Colossians 3:1-14 - Paul's instructions for holy living.
To ponder: As you think about how you might serve God, what is your
goal?
To Pray Lord, keep me free from a love of material possessions by an
awareness of how I might use them to benefit others. Amen.
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