Oct. 30 | Hebrews 13:5-6

David Thompson
Oct 29
2 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

Who (or What’s) On First?

By Gene Pierce

We’re now in a part of the Book of Hebrews that a learned friend of mine would call a “So What?” section. If chapters 1-10 tell us Jesus is the High Priest who gave Himself to be our atoning sacrifice, so what?

Here’s what! If Jesus is our Savior, then we should aim to be free from the love of money.

Now, if you ask me “How much money is enough?” I am right in line with 20^th century billionaire Andrew Carnegie’s answer: “A little bit more.”

Our culture lauds the wizards of Wall Street and business visionaries who fill (or create) a need that reaps them fortunes. We know wealth can be gone in a flash, but envy often overpowers us. If someone else can make it rich (or buy a bigger house or nicer car), why can’t I?

Yet the writer of Hebrews bluntly instructs believers to do the opposite: be free from the love of money and content with what we have.

How can we do that? By relying on God’s promise of eternal love and seeking a deeper faith that does not chase after money but uses it well, for His glory not our own comfort and egos.

After all, if through God’s grace we can all be camels that go through the eye of a needle, then by the power of the Holy Spirit we can all move on from the false security of wealth.

We can’t let financial prosperity -- or yearning for financial prosperity -- blind us from seeing where we need to go deeper in our faith. Jesus alone is our eternal Savior and Advocate and no amount of money can ever replace that.

PRAYER

Lord, help us to internalize the devotional from today. Our lives would be so less stressful if we could.

Have your Holy Spirit come around us and teach us your Word.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gene Pierce

Gene Pierce is a longtime member of UALC and our International Missions

Committee and former Council member who is still learning how to balance

life, work and faith. Gene and his wife Elaine are parents of four and grandparents of nine.