In the postscript of Hebrews, the writer touches briefly on three central areas of life for a Christian, the church (1-3), marriage (4), and now wealth and work. The Bible contains many exhortations not to love money because such love steals our hearts away from God, success induces pride, results in doing all kinds of evil, and makes one unfit to serve God. Money love afflicts you if you cannot part with it cheerfully. That was the rich young ruler's problem. Discontentment and covetousness of a neighbor's success are also signs of money love. The weekly tithe is a good thermometer of where one's heart is. Remember, the Lord loves a cheerful giver. The best answer to the temptation to love money is to remember God's love and care. He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. So even if we are robbed of our wealth by enemies of the Gospel, as the first readers of Hebrews were, we will not lose heart because it is true: The Lord is my helper, so I will not fear. What can man really do to me? |