Listen to Devotion

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.”

The word “free” is an impressively flexible word. We can use “free” to describe something that comes at no cost. We can use “free” to describe political rights, liberties, and freedoms. We can use “free” to describe a person who has a choice. We can use “free” to talk about something having a clear path, a person being on their own, or someone being outspoken. We also use “free” to describe certain foods that are without certain ingredients.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a worry-free life? We are often tempted to think that if we just make this much money or have that amount of money saved up, then we will be free to do whatever we want. Yet there never seems to be enough money for us to be free. We need more to reach that next threshold when we can finally be free. We keep chasing after more, so we never feel free.

Then God tells us, “Keep your lives free from the love of money…” In a sense, our God is calling us to have a greed-free life. How is that even possible in this greed-filled life? Thankfully, our God issues that command with a promise attached. He calls us back to an ancient promise he made through Moses, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

While this promise was first for the Israelites, Jesus reissued this promise to his New Testament believers— “Surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Jesus could make that promise because he set us free from the guilt of greed. Because Jesus paid for our greed on the cross, we can be confident that he will provide us with his constant presence. We need not worry about getting more to finally be free. Jesus has already set us free.

O Lord, when I am tempted to devote my life to gaining more in the hope that I will finally be free, remind me that you have set me free for all eternity. Remind me that you will never leave me nor forsake me. Amen.

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.