FOUR TIPS ON GODLY LIVING

By Eddie Lawrence
TEXT: Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with
such things as you have. For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake
you.[a] 6 So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can
man do to me?

1. LIVE WITH OPEN HANDS

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such
things as you have. For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake
you.[a] 6 So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can
man do to me?

-It is important that we live our lives not grasping and reaching for what everyone
else has. This breeds problems within the soul and allows resentment, bitterness
and ingratitude to begin to spring forth.

Illus- It is said the rich Rockefeller was once asked how much money did it take to
make one happy to which he replied, Just a little bit more!

-Covetousness leads to theft by desire and looses the complainer that lives within
our fallen flesh to begin preaching his critical sermons about his lot in life.
-Covetousness causes one to embrace self-pity while despising someone who had
come into blessing.

2. LIVE WITH CONTENTMENT IN YOUR HEART

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such
things as you have. For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake
you.[a] 6 So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can
man do to me?

-Just as covetousness blinds us to our blessings, contentment ever keeps it eye

upon them.
-We all have much to be grateful for and we need to learn how to praise our way out
of the proverbial jail cell of ingratitude.

Illus- Someone said that everyone lives in one of two tents: Discontentment or
Contentment.

-Giving thanks for what you have left is much more profitable that moaning about
what you loss or dont have.

Illus- A hog never looks up to the tree from which the acorns he enjoys fall. Likewise
the wicked man never looks up to the Father of lights from whom every good gift
comes.

-Paul said he learned how to be content (Phil. 4) and so can we. We will live longer
and better when we do.

3. LIVE WITH CONTINUAL AWARENESS OF HIS PRESENCE

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such
things as you have. For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake
you.[a] 6 So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can
man do to me?

-We do not covet what someone else has or live in discontentment when we know
we have the Lord with us. He cannot be taken from us. He has it all and we have
Him, so what do we need that we cannot find in Him?

Joke- A new teacher was trying to make use of her psychology courses. She started
her class by saying, Everyone who thinks theyre stupid, stand up! After a few
seconds, Little Harold stood up. The teacher said, Do you think youre stupid,
Harold? No, maam, but I hate to see you standing there all by yourself! For a
much better reason, the Lord does not want us to be alone. He loves us.

-Knowing He is ever with us is the antidote for: rejection, lonliness, despair,

discouragement, and fear of abandonment.

-In the darkest of days, His presence assures us that we can make it through.
-In the most blessed of days, His presence assures us of the source of the very
blessings we enjoy.
-Tell me one problem you face, that this truth does not dramatically impact?

4. LIVE WITHOUT THE FEAR OF MAN

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such
things as you have. For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake
you.[a] 6 So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can
man do to me?

-What scares you that He cannot handle?

-The fear of man is a snare to the soul, but knowing the Lord is with you and His
heart is to be your helper, then the fight is fixed..you are gonna win.

-Knowing the maker of the stars is at your side to help, means that anything that
stands before you threatening to do you in, is a wimpy whiny nothing compared to
Him.

Illus- As little David stood confidently before the Philistine giant, so can you stand
before your giants with confidence. The very word of God has come to you through

this verse. He promises you that you will not have to face anything alone and He is
with you to help. Hallelujah, what a deal!

Conclusion: The four little tips can make a very big difference in helping you live a
more godly life.