Month: September 2025

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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.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
Hebrews 13:5

A Life of Satisfaction

Everyone seeks satisfaction. An infant seeks satisfaction in a full tummy. A child seeks satisfaction in a parent’s approval. A teen seeks satisfaction in the approval of friends. A student seeks satisfaction in achieving good grades, participating in sports, or excelling in performance. Adults, where do we seek satisfaction? Accomplishment? Ability? Accumulation? Perhaps we look for satisfaction in what we consume, whether that’s what we put into our bodies, what we watch, or what we experience. Perhaps, we look for satisfaction in others, whether that’s friends, colleagues, or love interests.

Yet why is it that none of that ever truly satisfies? The baby gets hungry again. The child keeps trying to get her parents’ approval. A teen’s friend groups are constantly shifting. Grades and ability sometimes only go so far. And when we’re adults? Well, it’s tough to find lasting satisfaction in a world that wants you never to be content with what you have.

The writer to the Hebrews urges his readers to “be content with what you have,” but how can any of us have a life of true satisfaction? None of us can possibly find it from within, so we have to look outside of ourselves for the only source of satisfaction. We look to the promises of our God. Our God promises to never leave our side. That same God proves to be our helper who removes our fears. That’s where we find satisfaction.

Fear is really at the heart of everything that robs us of satisfaction, but the Lord is our helper. He is greater than our fears. Jesus proved that in a perfect life of true satisfaction lived in our place, in a death that paid for our lack of satisfaction, and in the ultimate victory over fear—his resurrection from the dead. Jesus is our helper, who will never leave our side and who removes all our fears. For true satisfaction, look to Jesus!

Prayer:

O Lord, my helper, remove my fears with your sure promises of your gracious presence and greater grace. Satisfy me with your mercy. Amen.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

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.

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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.”
Hebrews 13:5

A Worry-Free Life

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.

Prayer:

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.

Important note

The September 27th Devotion was not mailed out. You may access the devotion here:

Quality of Life – September 27, 2025

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

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.

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Woe to you who are complacent in Zion, and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria . . . You lie on beds inlaid with ivory and lounge on your couches. You dine on choice lambs and fattened calves. You strum away on your harps like David and improvise on musical instruments. You drink wine by the bowlful and use the finest lotions, but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph. Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end.
Amos 6:1,4-7

Healthy Living

Healthy living is a mantra these days. Just check out social media and articles. Weight loss, food choices, fitness goals, vacation plans, improving the comfort of your home—all these are part of healthy living, we’re told.

But what about our souls?

It’s not a sin to enjoy good food and fine living. But God’s people at Amos’ time were complacent. They lived in luxury while their spiritual lives were deplorable. The body was the picture of health, but the soul was sick and wretched. They kept on feasting, lounging, and partying without any concern for their faith, their status before God, their eternity.

God did not approve. God wanted them to refocus on him and his ways for their own spiritual good. So, he warned them that he would end their careless lifestyle. They would be carried off into exile.

Today, many of us live in relative luxury. We have more money, food, and things than most in the world will ever see in their lifetime. That’s not a sin. That’s a blessing from God. But are our priorities misplaced? What about our spiritual life? What about God’s approval?

God approved of his Son, Jesus, and he transfers that approval to you and me, through faith. He gives us the eternal food of forgiveness through Jesus. God blesses us with eternal life, paid for by Jesus at the cross.

Feast your faith on that amazing gift and God’s wonderful promises. Feast your faith on Jesus and his love. That’s healthy living.

Prayer:

Dear Father, thank you for all your rich gifts in my life. Help me to use it all to your glory, and to keep my focus on you. Feed my faith with your forgiving promises in Jesus. Bring me to your eternal banquet in heaven. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

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.

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Godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:6

Quality of Life

It’s said that, around 40 years ago, a diplomat from the old Soviet Union was visiting the United States. Part of his tour of the country included a visit to a typical American grocery store. The moment he entered the store; the diplomat was astounded. He was looking at something he had never seen before. In that grocery store, he was feasting his eyes on food of such quality, quantity, and variety that he simply could not believe what he was seeing was a typical American grocery store. In fact, it’s said that he convinced himself that his American hosts had arranged to have all the food brought there just to impress him.

At that time, the typical American grocery store carried 9,000 items. Today, the typical American grocery store carries 39,000.

It’s an astounding thing, isn’t it? Over the past four decades, our food choices alone have more than quadrupled. But as marvelous as that is, experience has also taught us that having more and better things does not, in and of itself, guarantee a greater quality of life. Some would make the case that the one has very little to do with the other.

And that’s where the apostle Paul comes in. Do you want to see your quality of life make a significant jump? Paul says, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Imagine a life lived in the full forgiveness earned by Jesus Christ. Imagine a life basking in gratitude and joy for that forgiveness. Imagine a life focused on serving Jesus by serving others. And imagine a life that’s content and pleased with what the Lord provides, regardless of changing circumstances. In Paul’s mind, such a life is “great gain.” Such a life is robust and rich and sweet.

Does this mean we can’t go to a grocery store with 39,000 items? Of course not. Go there and enjoy that store. Enjoy it to the glory of God. Just remember where our quality of life really resides. Our quality of life is in Jesus.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, help me to re-examine my quality of life. Remind me that a life that is truly robust and rich and sweet lies in you alone. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

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.

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Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People 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. 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.
1 Timothy 6:6-10

Money Trap

The secret to an effective trap is to keep your prey from seeing the menacing end that lies ahead. Instead of seeing a mouse trap that should scream, “Danger!” all the mouse sees is the piece of cheese. By the time the trap is tripped, it is too late. The mouse is caught. Its fate is sealed.

In today’s Bible reading, the apostle Paul warns us about having a lifelong ambition of being rich. Wealth can be like a piece of cheese. We want it so badly that we don’t realize what we stand to lose in getting it.

Do you know people who have given up too much in an attempt to get rich? How about the person whose marriage failed because of working sixty plus hours a week to get the big promotion? Or the worker who always had time for work, but never for family. Perhaps you know people like this, or know this type of pain firsthand. As bad as these consequences can be, though, an even greater pain would be to have riches destroy one’s relationship with God.

Paul’s words to Timothy are meant to warn us. But they are also meant to encourage us to fight greed with contentment. One way to pursue contentment is to count blessings. We do well to remember that God takes care of all our needs. He gives us food and clothing and provides all that we need for our body and life. Even more importantly, he has given us his son, Jesus, as our Savior from sin and sure hope of eternal life.

Take Paul’s advice and save yourself from a lot of misery. Be content with the blessings God provides and give thanks for the physical and spiritual gifts he gives to you. Pursue godliness with contentment.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, help me to count my blessings every day. Keep me from falling into the trap of always wanting more. May I always be content with the good gifts that you give to me. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

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.

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But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 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. 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.
1 Timothy 6:6-10

In Christ We Are Content

There is daily warfare going on inside every believer in Jesus. Our sinful nature wants to love the pleasures of life here on earth more than God and his eternal plan for us. Our sinful nature doesn’t count the blessings we have, but rather it grumbles about what we don’t have in comparison to other people.

Our new nature of faith, however, loves God and his will for our lives and leads us to be content with the necessities of life that God provides. It does not want the accumulation of money to get in the way of worshipping and praising God and moves us to hear and study God’s Word for the benefit of our faith and relationship with God.

This daily struggle inside of us, between the sinful, discontented nature and the new, fully contented nature, is very real. God warns us that craving money, and the things money can buy is detrimental to our spiritual life. Loving money and wanting to become rich can turn us away from God and cause us to lose the amazing riches of forgiveness and eternal life.

With God’s help, let’s daily strive to follow the lead of our new nature of faith. In this way, we give glory to God by showing the world that when we are rich in Christ, it really doesn’t matter how much money is in our bank accounts, the kind of car we drive, the size of our home, or the number of earthly possessions. In Christ, we are content!

Prayer:

Forgive me Lord, for not being completely thankful and content with the way that you have provided for me. Let my life on earth reflect how truly thankful I am for all you have given me. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

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.

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For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.
1 Timothy 6:10

Flee from the Love of Money

One of the saddest stories in the Bible is that of Judas Iscariot. He had been an apostle, one of the twelve disciples that Jesus sent out with the gospel message ahead of him. But Judas gave room to greed in his heart, and the love of money led him to betray his teacher. For the chance to gain thirty pieces of silver, perhaps the equivalent of a few months’ wages, Judas handed the world’s only truly innocent man over to the men who were eager to kill him. When what he had done finally sank in, it was too late. Judas ended his life in despair.

Unfortunately, Judas’ tragedy is not an uncommon one. Many others, too, have allowed their love of money and greed to lead them to do terrible things. Go down the list of commandments, and you will see that for each one, it’s not difficult to think of sins that people have been willing to commit, just for some financial gain. Con artists and charlatans, hit men, prostitutes, and phony preachers, those who commit treason or steal from their parents, are just a handful of examples of evil acts that flow from a love of money.

But the worst of it, the Bible warns us, is that greed ultimately leads us away from God when left unchecked. The apostle Paul wrote: “Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Even believers put their faith in jeopardy when they follow their hearts’ sinful longings for more. Christians will always carefully consider, for example, whether their overtime at work or a side hustle isn’t interfering with their ability to be more regularly in God’s Word and with God’s people.

What do we do when we search our hearts and find such temptations? Turn from it and turn toward Jesus. Confess to God your struggles with greed and materialism. Trust his promises to forgive you for the sake of his Son, who paid for that guilt and who covers you with his holy life.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, remind me of the true, lasting treasures that you have won for me in heaven. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

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.

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Godliness with contentment is great gain.
1 Timothy 6:6

Contentment Is a Gift from God

The ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus wrote, “Nothing is enough for the man to whom enough is too little.” What would it take to make you content and happy with where you are in life? How much more would you need to gain than what you have right now? The apostle Paul wrote, “If we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.” Does that seem like setting the bar too low? The problem is that wherever you draw the line today, our fallen human nature will likely find that to be too little tomorrow.

Six centuries before Epicurus, another wise man also reflected on the theme of contentment. After a long and prosperous reign, King Solomon recognized that he had been blessed by God with riches and fame and just about everything else this world has to offer. But what was the meaning of it all, if he was just going to die and leave it all behind anyway? Life is short, and health, wealth, and happy moments come and go. After reflection, Solomon observed, “when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 5:19). You see, contentment doesn’t come after gain. Scripture flips it around: contentment itself is the gain. Contentment itself is a gift from God.

One more man blessed with wisdom, Augustine of Hippo, wrote this prayer: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” If you feel constantly dissatisfied in life, it is unlikely that you are lacking some material thing. More likely, you are trying to fill a hole in your heart that can only be filled by your Creator. We were made by God to walk with him, to desire to be in his presence, and to find satisfaction in his love. But when we turned our hearts away from our Maker, he came in pursuit of us. His own Son, Jesus, was not content until he had made satisfaction for our sins and won for us a seat by his side in heaven.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, help me find joy and contentment in your loving presence. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

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.

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[Jesus said] “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
Luke 16:13

No One Can Serve Two Masters

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy story The Lord of the Rings, the pitiful creature named Gollum finds himself under the thrall of a magical ring. He is so driven by his desire for the ring that he is willing to risk everything, to sacrifice even loved ones, to be in possession of what he comes to call his “precious.” In the novel, the author masterfully describes Gollum’s internal conflict between wanting to show gratitude to the person who treated him with grace and wanting the ring that person possessed. He desired both, but he could choose only one. Ultimately, the ring’s mastery over Gollum’s heart leads him to a tragic end.

Jesus warned his followers against allowing the things of this world to have mastery over them. Wealth and property are not evil in themselves. The problem is when these things adversely affect our relationship with God, when they distract us to the point of forgetting that we are servants who already have a master—the Lord God who created us, who blesses us with all good things, and who has redeemed us from sin and death through the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus.

Do you struggle with such thoughts? When you are depressed, anxious, lonely, or just plain bored, do you find yourself looking for consolation in things you can purchase, own, or consume? Are your decisions in life motivated more by the “bottom line” or the desire to get ahead than by your relationship to God and trust in his providence? Be careful, Jesus says. You cannot serve two masters. Put aside the false glory of fleeting fortune and the pointless chasing after temporary gains. Turn to Jesus, who laid aside his heavenly glory and gladly gave his life for you, because you are precious in his sight. Then learn from him, your loving Lord, to use the things of this world in the service of his kingdom rather than the other way around.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you have redeemed me that I might live under you in your kingdom and serve you in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness. Help me to that end. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

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.