Commands and Promises

During my quiet time this morning, I was writing out some verses on the subject of testings and trials and God’s promises to be with us. As I began to write the verses found in Hebrews 13:5,6 I noticed something I had overlooked before.

Hebrews 13:5 KJV - 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.

The writer of Hebrews challenges readers with the command to be content with what we have.

What struck me was how often I have quoted the last part of the verse without giving thought to what precedes it.

I love to claim that promise that God will never leave me or forsake me. And what a beautiful promise it is.

But I thought to myself, “How odd that it comes directly after a seemingly random phrase about covetousness and contentment.”

And so, I read the whole chapter, trying to discern the context of the statement.

Not having studied Hebrews in depth before, it seemed to me that chapters 12 and 13 were almost a list of directions or instructions for how we are to behave.

We are told to persevere and endure chastening (Heb. 12:3-13). We are encouraged to be at peace with others (Heb. 12:14). We are told to love our brothers and sisters in Christ and show hospitality to strangers (Heb. 13:1,2). We are to care for those who are being mistreated (Heb. 13:3).

It is against this backdrop that we come to chapter 13 verse 5. In addition to all these instructions, we are told to live our lives without covetousness. We are commanded to be content.

I realised that we really need the first part of this verse as the second part forms the reason for our contentment.

Yes, it’s a beautiful promise that the Lord will never leave us or forsake us, but we need to remember the command that comes before it.

We are told to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and his provision for us. Because of God’s grace, we can learn to be content with what God gives us.

Promises are often preceded by commands in the Bible and all too often, we skip over the command on our way to the promise. But God expects obedience from his children, and just as an earthly parent may place conditions on receiving a reward, God too places conditions on his children, longing for them to obey and enjoy the blessings he sends.

 

Commands and promises

Trust in the Lord – and he will guide (Prov. 3:5,6)

Draw close to God – he will draw close to you (Jam. 4:8)

Seek God first – he will provide (Matt. 6:33)

Trust in the Lord – you will bring forth fruit (Jer. 17:8)

Delight in the Lord – he will give you what you need (Ps. 37:4)

Don’t be anxious – God will bring peace (Phil. 4:6,7)

I think this verse in Hebrews is trying to tell us that instead of trusting in our riches or in material possessions, which will ultimately fail us, we, as believers, should place our hope in God, who promises to never leave us or forsake us. He won’t abandon us. Our riches and our material possessions will abandon us. They will fail. We all know that money can be here one day and gone the next. But God keeps his promises and when he says he will stay beside us, he means it.

So, why can we be content? Why can we live our lives without covetousness? We are able to do this because God has promised that he will always be there.

Friends come and go. Relationships fail. Family members pass on. This world is constantly changing, and the promise that God will never leave, and he will never change is such an encouragement to the soul.

This promise was first given to Israel and Joshua before they entered the Promised Land.

Deuteronomy 31:6 KJV - Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

And then Moses reminded Joshua of it again in verse 8.

Joshua’s daunting task of taking the Promised Land seemed impossible, but with the Lord’s help, it was possible, because he would not forsake his people.

There are many other references to this promise in the Bible.

Jacob (Genesis 28:15)

Joshua (Joshua 1:5,9)

Solomon (1 Chronicles 28:20)

The poor and needy (Isaiah 41:17)

This verse in Hebrews is a reminder that we shouldn’t trust in riches, we should be content with what we have, because God is with his children forever and our trust should be in him alone.

The Greek word for forsake in this verse has the idea of being completely abandoned, deserted or left alone. God promises never to do this to his children.

And it is with this promise in mind that we can learn to be satisfied with God’s provisions. We don’t have to fret and worry over what we have or don’t have. We don’t need to be obsessing over what others have and constantly wishing for more.

We have the promise that God will be with us, and he will supply our needs. He will make sure we have what he knows we need. Notice I didn’t say, what we want. BIG difference.

God wants to give us what will make us conform to his image. Not the image of something or someone we have in our minds. No. His image.

Even when we are struggling through a dark time, or a time where we sense we are lacking the things we need, God is still faithful. God is still good. He is providing what we need in order that we will grow and become more like him.

God’s eternal promise that he will never leave us is not only comforting but it also gives us courage to walk the Christian life. Because God will never leave us or forsake us, we can live unafraid.

In Hebrews 13:6, God follows up on his promise with this statement.

Hebrews 13:6 KJV - So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Here we have another quote from the Old Testament.

Psalm 118:6 KJV - The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

God is the helper who protects and provides for his chosen people.

Just like Joshua was emboldened by God-given courage to complete his task, we too can be strengthened by the promise that God is on our side, and we don’t have to fear what others do to us or say about us.

Can I encourage you, the next time you come across the phrase, “he will never leave you or forsake you”, remember the first part of the verse and do a mental check on your contentment level.

Are you struggling with covetousness or discontentment? What is it that is keeping you in your pit of despair? Is it possible that you have forgotten the promise while you were busy disobeying the command?

Learn to be content.

Contentment is not found in ‘things’. True contentment lies in having faith in God, that whatever he chooses to do in our lives, whatever he chooses to give us, or not give us, is according to his perfect will and we should put our trust in him and be content that he is working for our good.

As you go about your day, think of things that you can be thankful for. Jot down the blessings as they come. Take time to think over your day and write down the things you’re grateful for. No matter what kind of a day you’ve had, how crazy it’s been, how frustrated you’ve felt, there is always something to be thankful for. Even if you just cry out to God in praise that the day is over, and you made it through!

Hebrews 13:5 KJV - 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.

Be content FOR he promises to never leave you or forsake you.

The reason for your contentment is the blessing of the promise.

Matthew 28:20b …”lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”