Contentment
Words of Faith 5-13-26
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2026
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Hebrews 13
[5] 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."[6] So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

We live in such an ambitious society. Our culture screams that unless we are making more money and buying more things, we are falling short. The truth of the Scripture is quite different. The truth of God is actually defiant in the face of worldly values. Everything we have comes from God, not from our hands. We are vain and prideful to think that we bring blessings to ourselves by our own hands. God is with us; we need nothing more. No man can hurt us because God will never leave us or forsake us.

The truth is that we are to work hard diligently and faithfully simply because it is a Godly thing to do (1 Thess. 4:11-12; 2 Thess. 3:7-13). We are to be faithful in the work that God provides so that God can provide for our families through that work. We are to endeavor to do every great dream that God puts upon our hearts and trust that He will bless us. God promised to bless us so that we may be a blessing to others. But we are also to find a place of contentment within the provision He has given and the stewardship to which He calls us.

There are some things with which we are not to be content. We are not to be content with a mediocre walk with God. We are not to be content with a cheap imitation of Christian life or the facade of "Churchianity". We are not to be content with an impoverished prayer life. We are to relentlessly pursue a relationship with God.

But the love of money can get in the way. God declares that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim. 6:10). Because of the love of money, some are tempted and steal from God (Malachi 3:8). Any time that we fail to return to God what He has directed in our hearts (2 Cor. 9:7‑8), or we simply choose not to listen to God and make a financial decision of our own desire, we steal from God. We also steal from ourselves the privilege of blessing others.

The truth is that Christians sometimes drive stolen cars to church, wear stolen clothes, and live in stolen homes. Christians sometimes educate their children with stolen money. Does that sound harsh? Legalistic? If God has directed that we trust Him by returning a portion, and then we steal from Him when we choose to disobey. And if one allows the love of money or things to invade that which God desires for you to give, then we steal from God. But that is certainly not the worst of it.

The biggest problem with the love of money and stealing from God is not that God might run short on cash or even that He might punish us somehow. The biggest problem is that we show God we cannot be trusted with more, and we block His greater blessing in our lives (Matt. 25:21). We often fail to see that God desires to entrust to us more, not less. We also miss the miracle of how God makes a smaller amount go farther than a larger amount.

Many miss the fact that God desires to open the floodgates of heaven and pour out upon us a blessing so great that it cannot be contained (Malachi 3:10). So, we really steal from ourselves a blessing. Whether that blessing is material, emotional, or spiritual does not really matter to me. I just don't want to miss anything that God desires to entrust to me.

The promise of God is clear:"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 man do to me?"We need not be afraid.

Lord, teach me to trust You in the daily matters of provision. Teach me to trust You enough to return to You that which You instruct in Your Word and impress upon my heart. Set me free from the love of money and things. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2025
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2025 Jeffrey D. Hoy.