Hebrews 13:5 - Keep your lives free from the love of money

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."

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Commentary

"...be content with what you have" - doesn't that sound strange in our consumer driven culture? We have created a co-dependence upon the latest model, the newest technology, or the most desired. Part of the economic crisis that we have created is based on people not buying unnecessary stuff anymore. Yet to tighten the belt economically and being free from the love of money are two different things. We can stop spending but still be consumed with our net worth. In other words, the love of money (whether we have it or not) can easily become a cheap imitation of the satisfaction that only God can give. The current economy becomes a brilliant litmus test of where our sense of well being comes from.

Today's Commentary by:
David Whitehead, Pastor, Grace NYC

Proverbs 3:9-10 - Honor the LORD with your wealth

Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

Commentary

Bringing our firstfruits to God is simply a way to honor Him. When we do so we are proclaiming that He is Lord of all of it. What a coincidence that those who honor God from their wealth are usually found not to be in lack. In other words, if you feel you don't have the money to give you can't afford NOT to give to God. Don't let the over exaggeration of the "health and wealth" preachers take away from the Biblical truth that God promises to materially bless those who honor Him. He wants to bless His children, but He wants them to give that blessing back to him. Each tithe is a deathblow to the idolatry of materialism.

Today's Commentary by:
David Whitehead, Pastor, Grace NYC