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| Hebrews 13:5-6 |
Have you ever thought that if you had more stuff you'd be happier? Do you think that a new car, a new stereo, new clothes or any other material thing will bring you contentment? You probably have more stuff now than you've ever had. Think about this. The richest people before 1900 didn't drive their own car, didn't have a washing machine, didn't have a telephone, didn't have a microwave, didn't have a television or even a radio, didn't have a computer or internet access. They didn't have electricity. They didn't even have indoor bathrooms. Our generation has more stuff than any generation before us. But are we happier? Are we more content?
J.D. Rockefeller was once asked how much money it would take to make him happy. His answer, "Just a little bit more."
Hebrews 13:5 says,
 Hebrews 13:5 |
"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you." |
1. COVETOUSNESS
Our English word "covet" comes from a Greek word meaning "grasping for or wanting more." It means "to want something that doesn't belong to you." There are many stories in the Bible about covetousness. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve saw the fruit that God told them not to eat. They wanted it, they took it and they ate it. In Joshua 7 Achan saw a little gold, a little silver and a nice robe. He saw it. He coveted it. And he stole it. In 1 Samuel 11-12 David saw Bathsheba. He wanted her. He killed her husband so he could have her. In 1 Kings 21 King Ahab coveted Naboth's field. He lied about Naboth in court and Naboth was killed so the king could get his land.
Hebrews 13:5 begins by
saying, "Let your conduct be without covetousness." The last of the
10 commandments is found in Exodus 20:17 and
it reads, "You shall not covet your neighbor's house ...your neighbor's
wife ... nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor any other thing that is your
neighbor's." This commandment is different than the other nine. The
first nine commandments are all outward actions. But this last one is an
inward heart attitude. And it is connected to the others. For coveting
leads to lying, stealing and even murder.
People can steal or take away any thing we have (clothes, car, house).
But the only thing people can't take away from us is God. He is always
with us. Nobody can take Jesus from us. That is why we have confidence.
You see, I can be confident that even if the man who owns my house goes
bankrupt and I lose my chunsei (key money); even if my friend has a new
car and someone takes a key and scratches it - that's OK. For "the Lord
is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." He will
always meet my needs.
In Hebrews 13:5-6
we have seen three things: covetousness, contentment, and confidence.
Christians are to avoid covetousness, learn contentment, and have
confidence.
The story is told about a rich man who saw a fisherman relaxing by his
boat. "Why aren't you out fishing?" he asked. "Oh, I've caught enough fish
for today.""Why don't you catch more fish?" the rich man asked. "What
would I do with them?" "You could earn more money," came the impatient
reply, "and buy a better boat so you could go deeper and catch bigger
fish. You could get nylon nets, catch even more fish, and make more money.
Soon you'd have lots of boats and be rich like me." The fisherman asked,
"Then what would I do?" "You could sit down and enjoy life," said the rich
man. "What do you think I'm doing now?" the fisherman replied.
2.
CONTENTMENT
Hebrews 13:5 says,
"Let your conduct be without covetousness;" and then it says,
"be content with such things as you have." Socrates said, "He is
richest who is content with the least." Christians can be content because
of at least three things we know.
A. God Will Take Care
of You
First, we know that God will take care of us. In Luke 12:22-31
Jesus said, "Think about how God takes care of the beautiful birds and
flowers. You are more valuable to Him than birds or flowers. If God can
take care of little things like this He will take care of You because
you're more important to Him." Contentment comes, then, when we trust
God will provide what we need!
B. You Can't Take it
With You
Second, we know that when we die we can't take any of our stuff
with us. 1 Timothy 6:7
says, "For we brought nothing into this world, and ... we can carry
nothing out." Think about that. When you were born you brought nothing
with you. If you want to be content, remember, material things are only
temporary. And when you die, when you leave this world, you can't take
them with you (Job 1:21)
.
C. You Only Have Two Real Needs
Third, we know that we
only have two real needs. Have you ever said, "I NEED this" or "I NEED
that"? In 1 Timothy 6:8
Paul says," And having food and clothing, we these we shall be
content." Anything more than food and clothes is a "luxury." God has
promised to give us food and clothes (Matthew 6:25-33)
. When we see how little we really need, we'll see how rich we really are.
So, we should be content.
3.
CONFIDENCE
Hebrews 13:5-6
says, "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such
things as you have." And then it says
Hebrews 13:5-6"So that we may boldly say,
The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
by Steve Nicholes
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