A century ago, there were few social or financial programs in America to ensure our old age. If the markets shifted under our feet, we fell through the broken shards that littered our path, and we succumbed to poverty and disease.
Then came Social Security, stock market controls, government protections for workers, hourly minimum wage standards, and unemployment compensation. We were set. There were no worries any more. Our government would take care of us.
Yet there is no security in the world. The housing bust of 2008 decimated the accumulated wealth of families across the country. Millions lost entire retirement funds. Cities went bankrupt. Services were cut back. People shuddered in fear.
Hebrews 13:5 gives us a place to hold to, a rock to stand on, and a secure stanchion in the time of the storm.
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”
We can find reassurance in the words of this verse. First, we need to look at ourselves. Our conversation is our lifestyle, or interaction with those around us. We are to accept God’s gifts unto us, and let others enjoy God’s gifts unto them, without letting envy into our heart. If our pastor puts in a pool, that’s between him and God. If we criticize him, we are hurting our relationship with the church and with God. If we cannot be content with our blessings, how can we be content with our place in Christ? Let the soloist be the center of attention. That’s between him, the choir director, and God. Our focus must be on being the best we can be in the position in which we find ourselves.
Second, we must look to Christ. If we are Christ-dependent, we will find our reassurance in his promise to always be at our side. He is our strong tower, our ever-present savior, and our solid foundation. There is no place we can go that Jesus does not travel at our side.
If we look to the original Greek, we find this passage actually says, “He, himself, has said: I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” These are the spoken words of Christ. He personally made this promise to his Church.
Read the beginnings of this promise in Joshua 1:5:
“There shall not any man be able to stand before you all the days of your life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with you: I will not fail you, nor forsake you.”
There is only one place to put our trust, and that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.
If we depend on any rock other than Jesus, we will find we are standing on shifting sand.
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Code: FGO.E.16.16c.vp.kjv