Letter to the Hebrews Volume 177

 Sacrifices Pleasing to God Part 4

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. KJV

The temporary material things of this 🌏 world 🗺 have always been an allure to many human beings over the centuries of humanity, however, God has always told His children that these things are not what gives us value or importance, but instead it is our conversation, conduct, and character that defines us to Him. So, we find the writer of Hebrews now reminding these new Hebrew converts to Christ back then and we converts to Christ today and of every era and generation that we are never to covet, that is, wish, long, or crave for these deteriorating material things that much of humanity use to define themselves with and by, declaring to the rest of the world that those things are what make them valuable or worthy human beings. Instead, the writer of Hebrews declares to us what our attitude toward these fleeting and fading material things should be with these words, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5) (KJV). The phrase 'Let your conversation' that begins this verse is translated by the Greek word tropos meaning figuratively deportment or character: manner of life. The English phrase 'be without covetousness' is translated by the Greek word aphilarguros meaning unavaricious: - without covetousness, not greedy of filthy lucre. In other words, our lives should not be ruled or run by how much of these fading material things we can store up for ourselves, because  at the end 🔚 of the day they will deteriorate and we will leave this earthly life for heaven leaving all those things down here, but instead we should do as our Lord Jesus Christ has commanded us to do and that is storing up treasure in heaven, as it is written, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:" (Matthew 6:19-20) (KJV). These words here from our Lord Jesus Christ is just one example from Him that clearly shows the utter decrepit, destructive, and devastating concept of the prosperity gospel (which is no gospel at all) and the disturbing, delusional, and deceitful 🚹 men and 🚺 women who have made themselves rich at the expense of people around the world 🗺 by feeding them 🤥 lies upon lies. The way we can lay up treasure for ourselves in heaven is when we give of the resources our Lord Jesus Christ has made us steward over to those true ministries of His who are sincerely preaching the Gospel of Christ and are seeing God the Holy Spirit convert many souls to Christ Jesus our Lord, for they are the treasures our Lord Jesus Christ speaks of and not laying up any earthly money in heaven because there money will be useless and worthless. All the earth belongs to the Lord and the fullness thereof (Psalm 24:1), therefore, we should be content with the things that He gives us to manage, that is, to steward while we are pilgrims down here, for whatever He wants us to have we will have because it all belongs to Him and He can bring to us what He needs us to have to do His will on the earth for His glory, for He will not leave us or forsake us during our sojourn to our heavenly home.

Here is 🌾 what Adam Clarke had to say of Hebrews 13:5, "That is, the whole tenor of your conduct, the manner of your life, or rather the disposition of your hearts in reference to all your secular transactions; for in this sense the original is used by the best Greek writers. Desire nothing more than what God has given you; and especially covet nothing which the Divine Providence has given to another man, for this is the very spirit of robbery. Being satisfied with present things. In one of the sentences of Phocylides we have a sentiment in nearly the same words as that of the Apostle: Be content with present things, and abstain from others. The covetous man is ever running out into futurity with insatiable desires after secular good; and, if this disposition be not checked, it increases as the subject of it increases in years. Covetousness is the vice of old age. I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee - These words were, in sum, spoken to Joshua, Joshua 1:5 : 'As I was with Moses, so will I be with thee; I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.' They were spoken also by David to Solomon, 1 Chronicles 28:20 : 'David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed; for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.' The Apostle, in referring to the same promises, feels authorized to strengthen the expressions, as the Christian dispensation affords more consolation and confidence in matters of this kind than the old covenant did. The words are peculiarly emphatic: There are no less than five negatives in this short sentence, and these connected with two verbs and one pronoun twice repeated. To give a literal translation is scarcely possible; it would run in this way: 'No, I will not leave thee; no, neither will I not utterly forsake thee.' Those who understand the genius of the Greek language, and look at the manner in which these negatives are placed in the sentence, will perceive at once how much the meaning is strengthened by them, and to what an emphatic and energetic affirmative they amount. This promise is made to those who are patiently bearing affliction or persecution for Christ’s sake; and may be applied to any faithful soul in affliction, temptation, or adversity of any kind. Trust in the Lord with thy whole heart, and never lean to thy own understanding; for he hath said, 'No, I will never leave thee; not I: I will never, never cast thee off.'"

Here also is 🌾 what Matthew Henry had to say of Hebrews 13:5, "The sin that is contrary to this grace and duty - covetousness, an over eager desire of the wealth of this world, envying those who have more than we. This sin we must allow no place in our conversation; for, though it be a secret lust lurking in the heart, if it be not subdued it will enter into our conversation, and discover itself in our manner of speaking and acting. We must take care not only to keep this sin down, but to root it out of our souls. 2. The duty and grace that is contrary to covetousness - being satisfied and pleased with such things as we have; present things, for past things cannot be recalled, and future things are only in the hand of God. What God gives us from day to day we must be content with, though it fall short of what we have enjoyed heretofore, and though it do not come up to our expectations for the future. We must be content with our present lot. We must bring our minds to our present condition, and this is the sure way to contentment; and those who cannot do it would not be contented though God should raise their condition to their minds, for the mind would rise with the condition. Haman was the great court-favourite, and yet not contented - Ahab on the throne, and yet not contented - Adam in paradise, and yet not contented; yea, the angels in heaven, and yet not contented; but Paul, though abased and empty, had learned in every state, in any state, therewith to be content. 3. What reason Christians have to be contented with their lot. (1.) God hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, This was said to Joshua (Joshua 1:5), but belongs to all the faithful servants of God. Old Testament promises may be applied to New Testament saints. This promise contains the sum and substance of all the promises. I will never, no, never leave thee, nor ever forsake thee. Here are no fewer than five negatives heaped together, to confirm the promise; the true believer shall have the gracious presence of God with him in life, at death, and for ever."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…