Sunday Night Bible Study Hebrews 13:5-8 December 4, 1994 Hebrews 13:5-8 Introduction The Jewish believers who were reading the original letter had been going through a great deal of persecution since they started believing in Jesus as their Messiah. Some of them had even been tempted to just give up in trusting in Jesus and go back to Judaism like they were before they were saved. The writer now begins to wrap up the letter with a lot of miscellaneous exhortations. 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. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord [is] my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. :5 Let your conversation be without covetousness conversation - KJV for "conduct" 866 aphilarguros {af-il-ar'-goo-ros} 1) not loving money, not avaricious Hebrews 13:5-NIV Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have... The Greek word is the opposite of one found in another passage: 1Timothy 6:5-11 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 6. But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Agur wrote in Proverbs: Proverbs 30:8-9 AV Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 9 Lest I be full, and deny [thee], and say, Who [is] the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God [in vain]. Illustrations For many years Hetty Green was called America's greatest miser. When she died in 1916, she left an estate valued at $100 million, an especially vast fortune for that day. But she was so miserly that she ate cold oatmeal in order to save the expense of heating the water. When her son had a severe leg injury, she took so long trying to find a free clinic to treat him that his leg had to be amputated because of advanced infection. It has been said that she hastened her own death by bringing on a fit of apoplexy while arguing the merits of skim milk because it was cheaper than whole milk. A rich man learned that he would die in a few days. He called his three friends: a doctor, preacher, and lawyer to his bedside. He said, "The preacher has told me that you can't take it with you, but I believe I have worked out a way so that I can. Doc tells me that I won't live long, so I have prepared three sealed envelopes, each containing $10,000. When I die, I want each of you to walk by the casket and drop in your envelope with the $10,000." A short time later, they attended his funeral and then met together. The preacher said, "I've got a confession to make. We've been needing to repair the organ in the church for a long time, and I took $2,000 out of Bill's envelope and used it on the organ." The doctor said, "This makes it easier for me, because I took $5,000 out and used it for my new clinic and only dropped in $5,000." The lawyer said, "Well, my conscience is clear. I did just what Bill said. I kept my envelope, picked up both of yours and dropped in a check for the whole amount of $30,000." Many people have tried to take it with them, but all in vain. Title: Plunge into Silence A husband and wife were attending a county fair where, for five dollars per person, a man was giving rides on an old biplane. The couple wanted to go up but they thought the price was too steep. Consequently, they tried to negotiate a lower price. "We'll pay you five dollars for both of us," they said to the pilot. "After all, we'll both have to squeeze into that tiny cockpit that was built for only one person." The pilot refused to lower his price, but he made a counter-offer. He said to the couple, "Pay me the full price of ten dollars and I'll take you up. And if you don't say one word during the flight, I'll give you all your money back." The couple agreed and got into the plane. Up they went and the pilot proceeded to perform every trick he knew, looping and whirling and flying upside down and lots more. Finally, when the plane had landed, the pilot said to the husband, "Congratulations! Here's your ten dollars; you didn't say a single word." To which the man replied, "Nope, but I almost did when my wife fell out." The Apostle Paul has written that the desire for money can plunge us "into ruin and destruction" (1 Tim. 6:9). He might have said also that the thought of parting with some of our money can plunge us into absolute silence. :5 be content with such things as ye have 714 arkeo {ar-keh'-o} 1) to be possessed of unfailing strength 1a) to be strong, to suffice, to be enough 1a1) to defend, ward off 1b) to be satisfied, to be contented It is a great secret to learn how to look at all that you have and say, "I have enough", not, "I want more". Philippians 4:10-13. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Illustration Here's a financial idea from Calvin Beisner: Someone who can qualify for a thirty-year, $90,000 mortgage at 10 percent can make monthly payments of $790 (all figures are rounded to the nearest dollar). If he's willing to start in a smaller, less expensive house, but still make about the same payments, he can pay the smaller house off much more quickly. Paying $790 per month, he could pay off a $47,600 mortgage at 10 percent in just seven years instead of thirty, paying a total of $66,380. Then he could sell that home, use the equity as a down payment on his $90,000 home, and pay off the $42,600 mortgage in seven more years at just $704 per month, paying a total of $59,128 on that mortgage. Ultimately, he'll have the home debt-free in fourteen years for $125,509 just 39 percent more than the price of the house. He'll save $158,801 compared with what he'd pay for the same house in thirty years at 10 percent. -- Discipleship Journal, Issue 53, p. 42 :5 for He hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." We quote this promise a lot, don't we? Interesting that it's used in relation to materialism, having and not having. :6 So that we may boldly say, The reason we are to be without covetousness and instead be content, is so we might be able to tell people that God is our helper. Illustration Title: The Dollar God A missionary in Africa had been witnessing faithfully to a certain individual. Following their conversation one day, the unconverted man placed a small statue and a silver coin on the table before him. Then he took two slips of paper and wrote something on each. Putting one beside the image and the other with the money, he turned to the Christian worker and said, "Please read this." On the note by the idol were written the words, "Heathen god." The sheet next to the coin bore the inscription, "Christian god." From what that needy soul had observed in the lives of the merchants from so-called "Christian" nations, he concluded that money was the object of their devotion! 7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of [their] conversation. :7 Remember them 3421 mnemoneuo {mnay-mon-yoo'-o} 1) to be mindful of, to remember, to call to mind 1a) to think of and feel for a person or thing 1b) to hold in memory, keep in mind 2) to make mention of Keep the leadership in mind - I think the best way is through prayer! I don't really care if you think about me or not, but I do care if you pray for me or not. :7 which have the rule over you What a great thing to be a ruler! Awesome cosmic power! Control over people's lives! Wrong! Not in the church! Mark 10:42-45 But Jesus called them [to him], and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Real leadership is demonstrated in real servanthood. We're going to have three qualities of godly leadership given to us: :7 who have spoken unto you the word of God #1 A godly leader is a person of the Word Healthy ministry is wrapped up in teaching the Word of God, not philosophy, not psychology. Charles Spurgeon spoke to young pastors: "In case the famine of books should be sore in the land, there is one book which you all have, and that is your Bible; and a minister with his Bible is like David with his sling and stone, fully equipped for the fray. No man may say that he has no well to draw from while the Scriptures are within reach. In the Bible we have a perfect library, and he who studies it thoroughly will be a better scholar than if he had devoured the Alexandrian Library entire. To understand the Bible should be our ambition; we should be familiar with it, as familiar as the housewife with her needle, the merchant with his ledger, the mariner with his ship. We ought to know its general run, the contents of each book, the details of its histories, its doctrines, its precepts, and everything about it." Be careful about those who only speak about nice things, who only preach the "feel good" sermons. 2Timothy 4:3-4 AV For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. If you want to be a leader in God's church, be a person immersed in the Word of God. :7 whose faith follow #2 A godly leader must be a person of faith Somebody who lives by what he doesn't see, not by what he sees. Someone who has demonstrated that God can be trusted. How does a person grow in being a person of faith? Trials 1Peter 1:6-7 AV Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: The Word of God. Romans 10:17-AV So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. :7 considering the end of their conversation Hebrews 13:7-NIV ...Consider the outcome of their way of life 1545 ekbasis {ek'-bas-is} RWP: {And considering the issue of their life} (h“n anathe“rountes tˆn ekbasin tˆs anastrophˆs). ... Ekbasis is an old word from ekbain“, to go out ... in sense of end or issue as in several papyri examples (Moulton and Milligan, _Vocabulary_). Think about what issues out of the life of the leader Jesus said, Matthew 7:16-17 AV Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. Look at the fruit in their life. #3. A godly leader must live as an example. 1Corinthians 11:1-NIV Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (NIV) 1Peter 5:1-4. To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers-- not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. It's not just what comes out of your mouth that is important, it's what kind of life is connected with it that counts. If you say one thing, but live like another, nobody's going to pay any attention to you. Illustration: When H. M. Stanley went to Africa in 1871 to find and report on David Livingstone, he spent several months in the missionary's company, carefully observing the man and his work. Livingstone never spoke to Stanley about spiritual matters, but Livingstone's loving and patient compassion for the African people was beyond Stanley's comprehension. He could not understand how the missionary could have such love for and patience with the backward, pagan people among whom he had so long ministered. Livingstone literally spent himself in untiring service for those whom he had no reason to love except for Christ's sake. Stanley wrote in his journal, "When I saw that unwearied patience, that unflagging zeal, and those enlightened sons of Africa, I became a Christian at his side, though he never spoke to me one word." 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. Two Doctrines Here 1. The Immutability of Jesus. The fact that He doesn't change. He didn't start out as a man who progressed to godhood. He didn't start as God, became only a man, then worked His way back to godhood. He was God, is God, and always will be God. 2. The Faithfulness of God. Because He never changes, you can always depend upon Him. When He says He will never leave you nor forsake you, He doesn't change His mind after a few years of tolerating you. When you look at stories of the tenderness of Jesus with the sinners, you realize He is that way with you, because He never changes. 9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For [it is] a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein. 10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle. 11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp. 12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. 13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name. 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you. 18. Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly. 19 But I beseech [you] the rather to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner. 20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen. 22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words. 23 Know ye that [our] brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. 24 Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you. 25 Grace [be] with you all. Amen. <<[Written to the Hebrews from Italy, by Timothy.]>>