Can you imagine the determination it takes to be “pure gold?”

4. Can you imagine the determination it takes to be “pure gold?”

5. Phelps has been described as a man of “rigid focus.”

6. Phelps has been described as a man of “rigid focus.” • Outside the pool, Phelps must train constantly.

7. Phelps has been described as a man of “rigid focus.” • Outside the pool, Phelps must train constantly. • He eats 12,000 calories a day.

8. Phelps has been described as a man of “rigid focus.” • Outside the pool, Phelps must train constantly. • He eats 12,000 calories a day. • His breakfast: 3 sandwiches of fried eggs, cheese, lettuce, tomato, fried onions & mayonnaise; one omelet; a bowl of grits; 3 slices of French toast with powdered sugar; & 3 chocolate chip pancakes.

9. We live in a world where many pursue “pure gold.”

11. In tonight’s text, the author of Hebrews cautions against a life of “pure gold.”

12. In tonight’s text, the author of Hebrews cautions against a life of “pure gold.” • “Keep your life free from the love of money” (Heb 13:5, ESV).

13. In tonight’s text, the author of Hebrews cautions against a life of “pure gold.” • “Keep your life free from the love of money” (Heb 13:5, ESV). • Jesus also spoke about the love of money.

14. In tonight’s text, the author of Hebrews cautions against a life of “pure gold.” • “Keep your life free from the love of money” (Heb 13:5, ESV). • Jesus also spoke about the love of money. • “Out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person” (Mk 7:21-23, ESV).

15. In tonight’s text, the author of Hebrews cautions against a life of “pure gold.” • “Keep your life free from the love of money” (Heb 13:5, ESV). • Jesus also spoke about the love of money. • “Out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person” (Mk 7:21-23, ESV). • “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist n the abundance of his possessions” (Lk 12:15, ESV).

16. In tonight’s text, the author of Hebrews cautions against a life of “pure gold.” • “Keep your life free from the love of money” (Heb 13:5, ESV). • Jesus also spoke about the love of money. • “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col 3:5, ESV).

17. We find the antidote to covetousness in our text.

18. “Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (Heb 13:5-6, ESV).

19. “Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (Heb 13:5-6, ESV). If we are content, we shall not covet.

20. What is contentment?

21. The term the author uses means to have enough, to be satisfied.

22. The term the author uses means to have enough, to be satisfied. • Being content means to see ourselves as satisfied.

23. The term the author uses means to have enough, to be satisfied. • Being content means to see ourselves as satisfied. • “There is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Tm 6:6-8, ESV).

24. The term the author uses means to have enough, to be satisfied. • Being content means to see ourselves as satisfied. • “There is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Tm 6:6-8, ESV). • Paul speaks of only food & clothing necessary for contentment.

25. The term the author uses means to have enough, to be satisfied. • Being content means to see ourselves as satisfied. • “There is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Tm 6:6-8, ESV). • Paul speaks of only food & clothing necessary for contentment. • Contentment is part of godliness.

26. The term the author uses means to have enough, to be satisfied. • Being content means to see ourselves as satisfied. • “There is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Tm 6:6-8, ESV). • Paul speaks of only food & clothing necessary for contentment. • Contentment is part of godliness. • An elder, the highest example in the church, cannot be “a lover of money” (1 Tm 3:3, ESV).

27. The term the author uses means to have enough, to be satisfied. • Being content means to see ourselves as satisfied. • “There is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (1 Tm 6:6-8, ESV). • Paul speaks of only food & clothing necessary for contentment. • Contentment is part of godliness. • An elder, the highest example in the church, cannot be “a lover of money” (1 Tm 3:3, ESV). • “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Mt 6:24, ESV).

28. Uninspired men also spoke of the need for contentment.

29. Socrates: “He is richest who is content with the least.”

30. Socrates: “He is richest who is content with the least.” Shakespeare: “He is well paid that is well satisfied.”

31. Socrates: “He is richest who is content with the least.” Shakespeare: “He is well paid that is well satisfied.” Chinese Proverb: “He who is content can never be ruined.”

32. Socrates: “He is richest who is content with the least.” Shakespeare: “He is well paid that is well satisfied.” Chinese Proverb: “He who is content can never be ruined.” Johann Georg Zimmerman: “He who wants little always has enough.”

33. Socrates: “He is richest who is content with the least.” Shakespeare: “He is well paid that is well satisfied.” Chinese Proverb: “He who is content can never be ruined.” Johann Georg Zimmerman: “He who wants little always has enough.” Unknown: “If you are not satisfied with a little, you will not be satisfied with much.”

34. Socrates: “He is richest who is content with the least.” Shakespeare: “He is well paid that is well satisfied.” Chinese Proverb: “He who is content can never be ruined.” Johann Georg Zimmerman: “He who wants little always has enough.” Unknown: “If you are not satisfied with a little, you will not be satisfied with much.” George Eliot: “The contented man is never poor, the discontented never rich.”

35. Several biblical characters were content with what they had.

36. John the Baptist.

37. John the Baptist. • “Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey” (Mt 3:4, ESV).

38. John the Baptist. • “Now John wore a garment of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey” (Mt 3:4, ESV). • We don’t read a word that John wanted more.

39. John the Baptist. • The poor widow.

40. John the Baptist. • The poor widow. • “And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. And he called his disciples to him and said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on’” (Mk 12:41-44, ESV).

41. John the Baptist. • The poor widow. • Mk 12:41-44. • There is no other way to describe this woman other than saying that she was content.

42. John the Baptist. • The poor widow. • Mk 12:41-44. • There is no other way to describe this woman other than saying that she was content. • This was first-century Palestine. As a widow, she would likely have had no way to earn an income.

43. John the Baptist. • The poor widow. • Mk 12:41-44. • There is no other way to describe this woman other than saying that she was content. • This was first-century Palestine. As a widow, she would likely have had no way to earn an income. • This lady put in everything she had.

44. John the Baptist. • The poor widow. • Paul.

45. John the Baptist. • The poor widow. • Paul. • “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:10-13, ESV).

46. “O what a happy soul am I! Although I cannot see, I am resolved that in this world Contented I will be; How many blessings I enjoy That other people don’t! To weep and sigh because I’m blind, I cannot, and I won’t.”

47. “They took away what should have been my eyes, (But I remembered Milton’s Paradise) They took away what should have been my ears, (Beethoven came and wiped away my tears) They took away what should have been my tongue, (But I talked with God when I was young) He would not let them take away my soul, Possessing that, I still possess the whole.”

48. The Key to Contentment

49. We trust in God’s providential care.

50. We trust in God’s providential care. • “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (Heb 13:5, ESV).