-
414) Heb 13:5a . . Let your conduct be without covetousness;
Not all covetousness is prohibited; for example 1Cor 12:31 where Christians
are exhorted to eagerly desire certain spiritual gifts.
The Greek word in this instance refers to avarice; defined by Webster's as
excessive, or insatiable, desire for wealth or gain; viz: greediness and
cupidity.
Were an avaricious person asked how much and/or how many it would take
to satisfy them; their answer would no doubt be "more" because it's in their
nature to grasp.
415) Heb 13:5b . . and be content with such things as ye have.
Since the writer connected this directive with avarice, I would have to say
his focus in that verse is on moderation; defined by Webster's as reasonable
limits and/or average; viz: avoiding extremes.
● Heb 13:5-6 . . He himself has said: I will never leave you nor forsake you.
So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can Man
do to me?
Well, I think the mortgage crisis in 2008, the stock market crash, the 401K
meltdowns, the ENRON collapse, the decline in oil production, the GM
financial mess, the national debt, massive nationwide lay-offs, the
proliferation of Islamic terrorism, and Mr. Bernard Lawrence Madoff easily
demonstrate that Man can hurt me quite a bit.
I lost an appreciable amount from my retirement account when the housing
bubble burst, and the market crashed due to the bankruptcy of Bear Sterns,
Lehman Brothers, and AIG; thus proving The Lord's words that thieves break
in and steal (Matt 6:49-21) and some of those thieves are managing banks
and innocent people's investments!
However, in spite of all those threats to my peace of mind, I still believe in
providence; i.e. The Lord will get me through it all somehow. Well; so far so
good.
416) Heb 13:7 . . Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to
you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
The "leaders" of that particular verse refer to the ones who captained Yhvh's
people over the centuries; e.g. Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, David.
Elijah, Ezra, and Nehemiah; and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel,
Micah; et al. about whom the Bible says:
"Who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained
what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the
flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to
strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies."
(Heb 11:33-34)
"Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured
and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.
Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in
prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death
by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute,
persecuted and mistreated-- the world was not worthy of them." (Heb
11:35-38)
"They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the
ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received
what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that
only together with us would they be made perfect." (Heb 11:39-40)
There was once an advertisement for a beer on television that said, in so
many words: "You only go around once in life. So grab all the gusto you can
get." Well; Christ's believing followers should not be thinking like that. They
don't go around once; the real gusto is yet to come.
/
414) Heb 13:5a . . Let your conduct be without covetousness;
Not all covetousness is prohibited; for example 1Cor 12:31 where Christians
are exhorted to eagerly desire certain spiritual gifts.
The Greek word in this instance refers to avarice; defined by Webster's as
excessive, or insatiable, desire for wealth or gain; viz: greediness and
cupidity.
Were an avaricious person asked how much and/or how many it would take
to satisfy them; their answer would no doubt be "more" because it's in their
nature to grasp.
415) Heb 13:5b . . and be content with such things as ye have.
Since the writer connected this directive with avarice, I would have to say
his focus in that verse is on moderation; defined by Webster's as reasonable
limits and/or average; viz: avoiding extremes.
● Heb 13:5-6 . . He himself has said: I will never leave you nor forsake you.
So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can Man
do to me?
Well, I think the mortgage crisis in 2008, the stock market crash, the 401K
meltdowns, the ENRON collapse, the decline in oil production, the GM
financial mess, the national debt, massive nationwide lay-offs, the
proliferation of Islamic terrorism, and Mr. Bernard Lawrence Madoff easily
demonstrate that Man can hurt me quite a bit.
I lost an appreciable amount from my retirement account when the housing
bubble burst, and the market crashed due to the bankruptcy of Bear Sterns,
Lehman Brothers, and AIG; thus proving The Lord's words that thieves break
in and steal (Matt 6:49-21) and some of those thieves are managing banks
and innocent people's investments!
However, in spite of all those threats to my peace of mind, I still believe in
providence; i.e. The Lord will get me through it all somehow. Well; so far so
good.
416) Heb 13:7 . . Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to
you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
The "leaders" of that particular verse refer to the ones who captained Yhvh's
people over the centuries; e.g. Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, David.
Elijah, Ezra, and Nehemiah; and the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel,
Micah; et al. about whom the Bible says:
"Who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained
what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the
flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to
strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies."
(Heb 11:33-34)
"Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured
and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.
Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in
prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death
by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute,
persecuted and mistreated-- the world was not worthy of them." (Heb
11:35-38)
"They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the
ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received
what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that
only together with us would they be made perfect." (Heb 11:39-40)
There was once an advertisement for a beer on television that said, in so
many words: "You only go around once in life. So grab all the gusto you can
get." Well; Christ's believing followers should not be thinking like that. They
don't go around once; the real gusto is yet to come.
/
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