Contentment (Revisited)

5 “Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ So we can say with confidence,

‘The LORD is my helper;

I will not be afraid, 

What can anyone do to me?’

-Hebrews 13:5-6 (NRSV)

A dear friend recently told me about one of her first memories where every family member was present. She vividly recalls seeing her mom, dad, and two younger sisters standing outside as they all wept, experiencing their family’s first eviction. Seeing her family’s most prized possessions and beloved family trinkets tossed about the ground was tragic. And, as strong and emotionally stout as I believe her to be, that moment seared a deep scar on her skin and heart. Knowing that no recourse was left, I could only imagine how her mother or father may have felt. It didn’t matter how hard they both worked or how intensively they loved their three little girls; they didn’t have enough money to give their girls a roof to sleep under, 

On one level, parents have an impossible task. We expect them to work all day, love all the time, and face tragedy with strength. After all, the children are watching. Children face quite a task as well. We want our children to see us and be inspired; we want them to understand how hard we work, and, on top of that, we want them to give us grace and forgiveness when we make mistakes. At times, our expectations for each other complement and conflict, especially when the love and lack of money get in the way. My friend is a fantastic adult, but she started as a resilient child whose family did their best to turn to Christ when they felt lost. 

Urging you to take refuge in Christ may seem empty during financial turmoil, but I promise you it is not. Christ doesn’t demand that we look away and ignore or forget our hardships, losses, and pain. Instead, Christ tells us that He is here to help. The Scripture brings contentment back into focus from our devotional from a few weeks ago, but this time, it gives us something more concrete. Now, we better understand what contentment means in light of Christ’s love for us. We should be content with what we have because Christ is here with us to help, and, most importantly, He won’t leave (especially now)! 

God of mutual love and grace, your help in our lives is how we endure. Help our family love each other so our lives will testify to your glory! Amen!

Question for reflection: How does your family practice mutual love during times of difficulty? Is it different than when things are “good”? What are three ways that your family can show love to each other in ways that each one of you will understand?