The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 413

Ver. 5.-Clwistian contentment enfoined and encouraged. "Let your conversation be without co,•etousness," etc. Our subject naturally falls into two main branches. I. T~E- DUTY TO wmcn WE ARE SUMMONED. This duty is here stated negatively and pos1t1vcly. l. Freedom from the love of money. "Let your conversation be ,vithout covetousness." Revised Version, "Be ye free from the love of money." This is a sin to which many are very prone, and the descendants of Jacob, to some of whom this letter was addressed, as much, or perhaps more so, than others. It is an exccedin"ly insidious and perilous sin. It does not carry any outward and visible stigma, as so~e sins do. They who are guilty of it may be respectable in appearance, maintain a good reputation in society, and retain their position in the communion of the Christian Church, while the Yigour and health and even the very life of their Christian character arc being subtly consumed l1y it. There is no sin more destructive of spiritual life, or more fatal to the highest and divinest things in man. It quenches the nobler aspira- tions of the soul. It degrades the soul itself until, oblivious of its high calling, and louking simply upon material or perishable possessions, man says, "Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry." And it is the prolific parent of other sins," the root of all kinds of evil" (1 Tim. vi. 10). Let us endeavour to be free from this ensnaring and destructive sin. 2. Contentment with present possessions. "Be content with such things as ye have." Ward Beecher says well," lt is not to be the content of indifference, of indolence, of unambitious stupidity, but the content of industrious fidelity. When men are building the foundations of vast structures, they must needs labour far below the surface and in disagreeable conditions. But every course of stone which they lay raises them higher; and at length, when they reach the surface, they have laid such solid rock under them that they need not fear no'I'.· to carry up their walls, through towering stories, till they overlook the whole neighbourhood. A man proves himself .lit to go higher who shows that he is faithful where he is. A man that will not do well in his present place because he longs to be higher, is fit neither to be where he is nor yet above it: he is already too high, and should be put lower." When we consider how few our real needs are, we may well cultivate contentment "with such things as we have." "Having food and raiment, let us therewith be content." And contentment is blessed. It softens our privations and sweetens our pro-risions. "Contentment will make a cottage look as fair as a palace. He is not a poor man that bath but little, but he is a poor man that wants much." Ir, St. Paul we have an illustrious example of this virtue: "I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content," etc. (Phil. iv. 11-13). Like him, let us seek to learn this lesson completely, and to practise this virtue constantly " in him thai strengthencth " us. IL 'l'HE FACT BY WHICH WE' ARE ENCOURAGED TO FULFIL THIB DUTY. "For he bath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.'' These exact words do not occur in the sacred Scriptures; but the sentiment is frequently expressed therein (cf. Deut. xxxL 6; Josh. i. 5; 1 Chron. xxviii. 20). Extraordinary is the emphasis of expres~ion in this assurance. No less than five negatives are employed by the writer to give force to this one brief yet bles~ed promise. The argument of the text is this, that the a.hiding presence of God with ns is a sufficient reason for contentment. It.is so_bec~use his presence guarantees: 1. The supply of all our need. W c have all things m him; e.g.: (1) l'rovision (Ps. lxxxiv. 11 ; Matt. vi. 25-34). (2) Protection (Pa. cxxi. 1; Rom. viii. 31; 1 Pet. iii. 13). (3) Guidance (Ps. lxxiii. 23, 24·; Prov. iii. 5, 6). "My God shall fully supply every need of yours, according to his riches in glory in Christ JesUE." 2. The, sanctification of our portion. His gracious presence will sweeten the poorest fare, and cheer the mo8t depressed condition, and exalt the lowliest circum- stances. To his faithful suffering servants his presence transformed a loathsome dungeon into a palace beautiful (Acts xvi. 24, 25). It is stated that Seneca said to UII. XIII, 1-25.) THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 409