New Years - Christ Our Companion

Christ our companion

Hebrews 13:5-6 "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

What does the New Year have in store for you?

Whether they be good things, or bad, or both you can face them because God has promised I will never leave you or forsake you.

Christ will be you companion every step of the way

Prayer

With Christ as our companion we will have:

a life of contentment

a life of companionship

a life of courage

1. A LIFE OF CONTENTMENT

As a rule, Man’s a fool

When it’s hot, He wants it cool.

And when it’s cool, He wants it hot,

Always wanting What is not.

(illustration)-Never Content

A man envious of his friend that had larger and more luxurious home than his listed his house with a real estate firm, planning to sell it and to purchase a more impressive home. Shortly afterward, as he was reading the classified section of the newspaper, he saw an ad for a house that seemed just right. He promptly called the realtor and said, "A house described in today’s paper is exactly what I’m looking for. I would like to go through it as soon as possible!"

The agent asked him several questions about it and then replied, "But sir, that’s your house your describing."

(point)

People are always looking for that which will help them feel a sense of contentment and well being...

When what they need has been with them all along - JESUS!

In Hebrews

Believers were struggling under oppression for being Christians.

According to Hebrews 13:5 they were having a moral struggle about money.

Hebrews 13:5 says "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have"

This is an old moral adage that was commonly repeated in Jewish tradition much like you would say

"a penny saved is a penny earned"

"Cleanliness is next to godliness"

In the KJV Hebrews 13:5 says,

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have.

Many of the believers had been forced out of their Jobs and homes because they were believers…

And they were not content………….

They didn’t have the food they wanted

They didn’t have the money they wanted

In order to encourage the believers the author of Hebrews brings two verses together in what is called in Hebrew a (gezerah shavah) - That is, two phrases are linked together because of a common key word

The two phrases were

Deut. 31:6

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.

Psalm 118:6

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

You know what the linking word is that draws these two verses together to become Hebrews 13:5-6

FEAR….

They were experiencing fear because of a lack of money

And further, money had replaced Jesus as the source of their contentment.

They thought if they could only find a way to gain more money they would be content and fear no longer.

Do you ever feel that way?

I think we all understand the feeling

Let me introduce you to an important Spiritual principle

1 Tim. 6:6

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

It means,

Godliness which is ---Holiness + Devotion = good,

But not gain

Plus contentment

Inner God-given sufficiency

= Equals great GAIN (The word means "money getting" or "furnishings")

But in context it does not refer to gaining money...

Its talking about something money can not buy

It’s talking about gaining an inner PEACE that you can carry with you...

When you are rich

When you are poor

When you lose your job

When you find one

When you get sick

And when you are healthy

Where does that Kind of peace and contentment come from?

Only one place.

from Jesus who has promised to be with us and not forsake us.

Philip. 4:11-13

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

He is the secret

Let Him be your source

In Him

You will find financial contentment