John Calvin Commentary Hebrews 13:5

"Be ye free from the love of money; content with such things as ye have: for himself hath said, I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee." — Hebrews 13:5 (ASV)

Let your conversation be without covetousness, etc. While he seeks to correct covetousness, he rightly and wisely instructs us at the same time to be content with what we presently have; for true contempt for money, or at least true greatness of mind in its right and moderate use, is evident when we are content with what the Lord has given us, whether it be much or little. For certainly, it rarely happens that anything satisfies a covetous person; on the contrary, those who are not content with a moderate amount always seek more, even when they enjoy the greatest abundance. This was a doctrine Paul declared he had learned: to know how to abound and how to suffer need. Therefore, whoever has set limits to their desire, so as to accept their lot with resignation, has expelled the love of money from their heart.

For he has said, etc. Here he quotes two testimonies. The first is taken, as some think, from Joshua 1, but I am more inclined to think it is a statement drawn from the common teaching of Scripture, as if he had said, “The Lord everywhere promises that He will never fail us.” From this promise, he infers what is found in Psalm 118: that we have the power to overcome fear when we are assured of God’s help.

Indeed, here he plucks up the evil by its very roots, as is necessary when we seek to free people's minds from it. It is certain that the source of covetousness is distrust. For whoever has this conviction fixed in their heart—that they will never be forsaken by the Lord—will not be excessively anxious about present things, because they will depend on God’s providence. Therefore, when the Apostle seeks to cure us of the disease of covetousness, he wisely calls our attention to God’s promises, in which He testifies that He will always be present with us. From this, he later infers that as long as we have such a helper, there is no reason to fear. For in this way, no depraved desires will trouble us; for faith alone can quiet human minds, whose restlessness without it is all too well known.