(Heb 13:5-6) 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. {6} So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Fear is a great motivator or hindrance in life. Fear can move us to do great or amazing things – such as a little woman who lifted a car off of her trapped child, or the man who jumped far beyond his capabilities because he was in danger and fear took him beyond his normal abilities.
Fear can also hinder us as well. How often have we told a lie because we were afraid that telling the truth would put us in a difficult situation? Take a child who breaks a vase or something else when no one is around and the crash brings a parent running. The child is asked, “Did you do that?” and being fearful they lie and say, “No”. We lie to avoid exposing our self to unwanted scrutiny or embarrassment – if we fall or do something foolish and get hurt, we are asked, “Are you okay?” Through our pain we say, “Yes.” Fear runs our life often in a direction we normally would not go. Teenagers fear being left out and so they compromise their standards to the crowd and lie about their family of faith. People fear being alone so they enter into a marriage that is bad. Preachers fear losing popularity so they compromise God’s truth to keep people coming to church. We fear being our self and so we put on plastic faces and become hypocrites. Fear is a terrible thing.
In the Old Testament the phrase “fear not” occurs 48 times and in the New Testament is occurs 12 times. That does not include any other arrangement of the word fear in warning or counsel – only that order of words.
God does not want us to live in fear and act out of fear (except the reverential fear of Him). Our text says much about living in fear.
First, God addresses our living in regards to our possessions. The word conversation means manner of life – our practical living in this world. God says to not be caught up into the sin of loving money and wealth; seeking it above living. Paul tells us that this is actually idolatry – “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:” When we put possessions ahead of spiritual matters, we get into a lot of trouble. Money is necessary and God has no problem with people having a lot of it, but when it takes over our life or much of it, then it has become an idol and also the root of evil – “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
God wants us to be content with our position in life. Now this does not mean that if we are unemployed or laboring in a very poor or menial position that we are not to better our self after prayer and communion with God. But God desires our trust and dependence upon Him in all of life. Many people use money as a lever to get people to do their bidding – bribes, pay offs and etc. God says trust Him in life because his promise is to always be with us and not leave us. So that we can safely say, “I will not fear what man can do.” God is our helper and keeper.
As we enter upon this New Year, let us take hold of God’s promises and live life to the fullest in Him.