Hebrews 13

Heb 13:5-6 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)

Money was the measure of God's blessing for the first century Jew. As they understood the Mosaic Covenant, wealth indicated God's approval. For the Christian, life with God is measured very differently. It is measured by faith. It stands on the faithfulness of God. It is not measured by the present, but by a future hope. Therefore, keep your life free from the love of money. Therefore, be content with what you have. Therefore, live lives of holiness and peace. Therefore, do good, share what you have, submit to the leadership or those over you, avoid sexual immorality, and above all, don't be afraid to face opposition and persecution with confidence. We live and walk by faith in a manner that those focused on externals are not worthy to know. Our worthiness comes from Christ, who was himself rejected. Don't be ashamed to "go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured." (Heb 13:13)

This may be the point of this whole letter to the Hebrew believers. In the face of persecution and opposition we need to understand that following Christ is not about external temporal wealth, but eternal wealth. Following Christ is a walk of faith not sight. Those who went before were individuals who did not receive the promises of God in this life, yet they believed. Therefore, because things are not going well, because bills are piling up, cars are breaking down and money is not flowing in does not indicate that you are not saved. Persecution and opposition does not mean that you need to go back and "get saved again." The foundation is laid. It is a "once for all" deal. Now we walk by faith looking toward to that blessed hope that we have in Christ.

It is really easy when things go wrong to begin questioning the presence of God in our lives. We should not be surprised when life is hard. We walk by faith, not by sight. It is easier to "sell" a religion that promises health and wealth, but Christianity promises hope. Health and wealth end at the grave. Hope extends beyond this life. Health and wealth always involve hoops to jump through in order to somehow gain a god's approval. Hope rests on the finished work of Christ. Health and wealth always leave us with an empty taste in our mouths. Hope makes us not ashamed. As Jesus said:

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
( Mat 6:19-21 ESV)

Father, forgive me for how often and how quickly my heart turns to things of this earth. Today, by your grace, may I live by faith "with eternities values in view."

By His grace,
Rick Weinert

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