God With Us: Five Blessings (Part 5)

Blessing 5: Because God is with us, we can be content in all circumstances.

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Image by Silvia from Pixabay [1]

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Growing up, I was never concerned about going hungry, lacking clothes, or not having a warm house to protect me from the wintery snows. Thoughts of such never even entered my mind as a child because my parents faithfully provided these for me through all my growing years. Though each fall I looked forward to the arrival of the Sears Christmas Wish catalogue and dreamed of the latest toys and outdoor recreational equipment that filled page after page, I knew that these were extras. I hoped that perhaps once or twice a year – on my birthday or on Christmas – that one or two of my many dreams might be fulfilled, but never once growing up did I ever worry about food, clothing, or shelter.

To be sure, when my three brothers and I got into our teen years and wanted trendier clothes or extra items such as a ten-speed bike or backpacking equipment, then we were responsible to raise the extra money. During my teen years, I mowed lawns, delivered papers at 5:30 every morning for three years, washed semi-trucks and trailers, did custodial work, and was a quick order fry cook to provide for the extras I wanted. But never once was I concerned about meals, a warm house in the winter, clean linens on my bed, laundered clothes, having my medical, dental, and optical needs met, or other essentials – along with even a few extras.

Though extras are nice, the apostle Paul calls us to be content with food and coverings (clothing and shelter).

1 Timothy 6:6–11 (NIV) 

6    But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7    For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

8    But if we have food and clothing [NASB – “covering”], we will be content with that.

9    Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

10  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

11   But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 

The Greek word translated “clothing” (NIV, ESV, NLT, NKJV) or “raiment” (KJV) is the word skepasma, literally, “a covering” (NASB), which can also refer to “a shelter” or “a roof.” [2] Used here in the plural, I believe it applies to both clothing and shelter since both are essential for protection from nature’s elements. Paul is calling us to be content with our basic needs being met – food, clothes, and shelter. In northern climates like Canada, where I live, shelter is vital and would also include a source of heat for protection against winter’s severe subzero temperatures.

The Bible does not condemn having more, but it does condemn a life driven by greed, for the love of money can lead to all kinds of moral evils such as dishonesty, cheating, stealing, extortion, exploitation, illegal trafficking, and even violence in one’s efforts to amass more. Greed is also a form of idolatry (Colossians 3:5), which compels some to pursue harmful desires and seduces some to even wander from the faith (1 Timothy 4:9-10). Paul’s solution to love of money is being content with God’s provision of life’s essentials, fleeing greed and its traps, and pursuing higher spiritual values - righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness (1 Timothy 4:11).

Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash

Paul further instructs “those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. … to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share” (1 Timothy 6:17–18 NIV). So, in addition to contentment and pursuing higher spiritual values, Paul exhorts those with wealth to place their hope in God, not temporal riches, and to use their wealth for doing good and being generous. In short, Paul’s two main solutions to overcoming the love of money are contentment and generosity. Contentment makes us grateful for all God has provided, and generosity conquers our greedy desires to amass more for self. We contentedly enjoy and thank God’s for His provisions and when blessed with riches, we choose “to be rich in good deeds.”

But contentment goes even deeper than gratefulness for life’s essentials. The apostle Paul “learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength” Philippians 4:11–13 (NIV). Paul’s ability “to be content whatever the circumstances” is directly linked to Christ’s enabling grace, “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Paul’s secret for contentment in any and every situation did not come from seeking pleasing feelings, amassing more wealth, or experiencing earthly satisfaction in his circumstances but rather from living to please and glorify Christ (Philippians 1:20-21) and relying on Christ’s enabling strength to do so regardless of the circumstances, even in times of lack.

Paul’s personal experience with contentment aligns nicely with the exhortation found in the book of Hebrews.

Hebrews 13:5–6 (NIV) 

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 mere mortals do to me?” 

Like Paul, the writer of Hebrews advocates fleeing the love of money and being content with the essentials. The reason we can be content is because God is with us. With God, we always have enough because He will never fail or abandon us (see NASB, NLT). If God is with us, then we can rest in the assurance that He will provide all our needs in this life. Much like I lived with the assurance of my basic needs being provided by my parents, we can live with the assurance that God will faithfully “provide all [our] needs according to His riches in glory” (Philippians 4:19).

To make his point, the writer of Hebrews quotes two passages from the Old Testament. The first is Deuteronomy 31:6-8, which records some of Moses’ final words to the nation of Israel just prior to commissioning Joshua to lead them into the Promised Land. Here Moses assured God’s people and Joshua that God would go before them and will be with them. He assured them that God would never desert them.

Deuteronomy 31:6–8 (NIV) 

6    Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

7    Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance.

8    The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” 

Moses repeatedly assured the people of God’s faithful presence and His promises in order to strengthen their hearts for the many battles and challenges they would face in possessing the land - "be strong and courageous,” to “not be afraid” and to “not be discouraged.” They need not fear because the Lord would go with them and would give them the land that He had promised. He would provide.

The writer of Hebrews applied these same assurances of God’s faithful presence to exhort his readers to “keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.” They didn’t need to worry about their needs being met, nor were they to greedily pursue money, but rather were to live contentedly with what God had provided. Most certainly, this did not remove their responsibility to work diligently in earning an income or to wisely steward God’s provision, but rather it encouraged trust in God and gratefulness for His provision.

The second passage quoted by the writer of Hebrews is taken from Psalm 118

Psalm 118:6 (NIV) 

6    The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? 

“The Lord is with me” (NIV) is more literally “for me” (NASB, NLT) or as translated “on my side” (ESV, NET, KJV). The main idea is that God is acting on my behalf - He is with me on my side - so I need not fear. The writer of Hebrews quotes the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) in which the concept “for me” is translated “The Lord is my helper.” In context, the Psalmist is thanking the Lord for His goodness and lovingkindness despite his distressing circumstances. Even though surrounded by his enemies, the Psalmist takes refuge in the Lord and finds the Lord to be his strength, song, and deliverance because the Lord’s right hand has acted valiantly on his behalf. The Lord is for him! He is his helper!  He need not fear mortal man!

The writer of Hebrews alludes to the encouraging truths of this Psalm to add further support to his injunction to be content. Don’t worry about your circumstances, don’t worry about provision because the Lord is for you to act on your behalf. Be content because He is with you on your side, . You can trust Him to meet your needs.

It is interesting that the apostle Paul alludes to this same Psalm in a similar fashion.

Romans 8:31–32 (NIV) 

31   What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

32   He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 

Paul’s conclusion is that no one and nothing can ultimately stand against us because God is for us. If God already gave us His very best through giving His Son to die for us, we can trust Him to provide all we need. Paul, further explains that nothing can separate from God’s love in Christ; and then to drive his point home, he lists seventeen different earthly and heavenly forces unable to do so (Romans 8:35-39). If God is for us, then there is no force in heaven or on earth that that can separate us from the love of God in Christ. If He did not spare His own Son to save us, we can fully trust that He will care for us both in this life and the next.

This is the consistent message of the Bible. “God with us” is closely connected with the message that God is for us, that He cares for us, that He has our wellbeing in mind, and that He will act on our behalf for our ultimate good. In view of this, we can be content and need not worry or fear.

Jesus elucidates this same message in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:19-34). But before doing so, He warns against building our security on perishable earthly treasures, calling us instead to store up imperishable treasures in heaven. He alludes to a tug of war for the ultimate love and loyalty of our hearts. We can’t serve two masters. We can't serve both God and money because idolizing wealth will lead to despising God. Serving two masters is like having each foot in two separate boats going in different directions. The conflict of affections forces a choice to place both feet in one boat or suffer the disastrous consequences.

Image from https://omghitched.com/why-is-love-more-powerful-than-money/ (text added)

Jesus then teaches us how we can resolve this conflict of desires, how we can put God first and at the same time not worry about our financial wellbeing. He enjoins us to learn from the birds and lilies. Don't worry about food or clothing because our Heavenly Father feeds the birds and clothes the lilies. If God cares for lesser creatures and fragile flowers, how much more important are we? Instead of being anxious, we can trust our Heavenly Father because He knows what we need even before we ask. As we seek Him first and seek to please Him, He will provide everything we need. (Matthew 6:19-34). By prioritizing our love and devotion for God and realizing that He is a loving Father who genuinely cares for us, we can live with the confidence that He will meet all our material needs.

Conclusion

When we have assurance of God’s presence, we need not be anxious about anything. Rather, we can lift all our needs in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, and the peace of God that passes all understanding will guard over our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:6-7). We can cast our cares on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

Moreover, just as children are not concerned with daily physical needs because they have assurance that Mom and Dad will provide those needs, we too can rest assured that God will meet our needs because He is with us and has our well-being at heart. He will never leave us nor forsake us. Because God is with us, we can live contented lives without worry or fear. The assurance of God’s presence is the key to contentment because it is the assurance of God’s provision and enabling grace for all the circumstances of life.

Series Wrap Up

We've come to the end of this five-part series on "God with Us" and explored five amazing blessings that are ours.

Blessing 1:  Because God is with us, we can have assurance in trial.

Blessing 2:  Because God is with us, we can have success in God-given tasks.

  Blessing 3:  Because God is with us, we can have victory in spiritual conflict.

Blessing 4: Because God is with us, we have authority and enabling power to make disciples.

Blessing 5:  Because God is with us, we can be content in all circumstances.

What incredible benefits are ours because of God's faithful presence in our lives. As I wrap up this series, I want to pronounce a benediction over you and your family. I've chosen the deeply meaningful lyrics from a worship song called The Blessing, written by Cody Carnes, Elevation Worship, and Kari Jobe. This song is based on the Aaronic blessing found in Numbers 6:22-27 as well as numerous other passages assuring God's people that He is with them and for them.

The Lord bless you and keep you Make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you The Lord turn His face toward you And give you peace May His favor be upon you And a thousand generations And your family and your children And their children, and their children May His presence go before you And behind you, and beside you All around you, and within you He is with you, he is with you In the morning, in the evening In your coming, and your going In your weeping, and rejoicing He is for you, he is for you Amen, amen, amen Amen, amen, amen Amen, amen, amen Amen, amen, amen

REFERENCES

[1] Image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/silviarita-3142410/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3411790">Silvia</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=3411790">Pixabay</a>

[2] W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, and William White Jr., Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Nashville, TN: T. Nelson, 1996), 136. See also H.G. Liddell, A Lexicon: Abridged from Liddell and Scott’s Greek-English Lexicon (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1996), 732, and Alexander Souter, A Pocket Lexicon to the Greek New Testament (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1917), 236.