AUGUST 6, 2021 SCRIPTURE AND SONG “BE CONTENT”

HEBREWS 13:5 Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money — (including) greed, avarice, lust and craving for earthly possessions, and be satisfied with your present circumstances and what you have; for He (God) Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless, nor forsake nor let you down, relax My hold on you, — assuredly not! Amp.

DEFINITIONS

Greed – d) excessive desire for acquiring or having, avarice.

Avarice – d) too much desire to get and keep money; greed.

Lust – c) a longing (especially) for what is forbidden.

When the Israelites were in the wilderness the Lord fed them with manna everyday until they crossed over to the promise land. He supplied their needs. He supplied them with enough food for their daily needs and no more. If they tried to collect more than what they needed, it spoiled and became wormy.

He wants us to depend upon Him as our only source. We can not store up extra food for the future while depending on Him. Some greed is based on the fear of doing without. If Jesus is your source then there is never any reason to store up extra supplies for the future. He can create whatever our needs are with no effort.

In Numbers 11 the Israelites began to lust greatly for the foods they ate in Egypt. They complained that their strength was dried up because of the manna that God fed them which kindled the anger of the Lord against them. He gave them what they craved, but many died because their physical appetite caused them to sin, Num. 11:34.

Paul said in Philippians 4:11 that he had learned to be content (satisfied to the point) where he was not disturbed in whatever state he was in. He said in verse 12 that he had learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation. He was content whether well fed or hungry. He said “I am instructed.”

He then says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” KJV The Amplified says it like this, “I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me — I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me, that is, I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency.”

Paul had spent quality time alone with the Lord and had learned His voice. When he was instructed by the Lord it did not matter what He said. It is such a wonderful place to be and makes all the angry voices of the flesh, the world and the devil be silent and silently creep away. It does not matter what fleshly state you are in because you are dwelling in the heavenly sphere where nothing can harm you.

Hebrews 13:5 is telling us not to want the things of this world that are coming to an end. If we keep our eyes focused on the spiritual things that really matter out desires will change from fleshly to spiritual. The flesh will no longer have any control because of the inner strength He gives.

Then He can give us all things, because all we want is Him. When we enter the Sabbath rest, our soul can take a deep breath and breath a sigh of relief knowing all is well and cared for by the Father.