Let us turn now to the verse in (Hebrews 13:5), what a lovely verse it is. It is interesting to note that this lovely promise follows a warning about being covetous. There are those today, who pose as the servants of God, yet seek to inflame the principle of covetousness in the hearts of the children of God. They preach what is called the ‘prosperity gospel, or doctrine’, and tell people that if they practice the principle of tithing, that is giving to God, (and that means to them), a tenth of all that anyone earns, then God will return them ten times as much as they give. This doctrine inflames the principle of covetousness in the life of any person.

We are continually warned in the New Testament against covetousness. The Lord Jesus exhorted us not to lay up treasures for ourselves upon earth, but instead to lay up treasures in heaven. (Matthew 6:19-20) Material possessions here tend to produce a sense of false security, and isolate us from a daily sense of total dependence upon God. It made the Church at Laodicea to be content to have the Lord Jesus outside the door, and caused them to boast, "I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing". (Revelation 3:17) Material wealth and comfort tend to blind us to our true spiritual state, and our deep spiritual need.

It is interesting to note the emphasis in the verses that lead up to the declaration of this lovely promise. The conscious presence of the Lord Jesus with us will enable us to grow more like Him each day, and thus fulfil the commands of the verses that precede verse five. The first exhortation is to let brotherly love continue. This quality of love is in danger of being supplanted by the erotic form of love. Brotherly love is a strong unselfish, longsuffering kind of love. It t is a love that is prepared to suffer for another; it is a love triumphs eventually in adversity. Then let it be revived amongst us, and let it grow stronger each day!

This quality has tremendous rewards, though it seeks none. Hospitality is a gauge of the spiritual state of any gathering of God’s people. But where there is an attitude of coldness, and visitors are ignored, it indicates a state of spiritual coldness and indifference. Let us consider the example first of Abraham, and later of Lot. Little did they know who their visitors were, (at first), but in the case of Abraham, he unwittingly ministered to Jehovah, and also to two of His Angels. When the two angels came to Sodom at even, they came in the form of men. Lot warned them of the nature of that place, and took them into his house, and thereby entertained Angels unawares. Let us not be slow to exercise hospitality!

We are to remember prisoners, (those imprisoned for the sake of Christ and His testimony), just as if we were bound, and in the prison cell with them. Also we are to remember those believers who suffer adversity, just as if we too were passing through the same circumstances as them. This is the expression of true brotherly love. How it would develop and expand our prayer life if we were to heed this exhortation as fully as we should.

Marriage is an institution introduced by God, (it was He that performed the first marriage), for the happiness of man, and also for the stability of our society. In Western countries young people approach the question of marriage very lightly. It is a common practice for young people to live together outside of marriage, and then to think of getting married later. Such a practice is abhorrent to God. Marriage is to be elevated in our thoughts. It is honourable in every way, and the (marriage), bed is undefiled. There is nothing dirty or wrong for a couple to co-habit together, within the marriage bond.

This word (conversation), in the Greek, means not only what we talk about, but also our manner of life. It is to be without the love of money, contentment is a beautiful thing.. How many marriages are made very beautiful because both partners are content with what they have. I would exhort all wives to encourage their husbands to just live for God, and trust Him to supply what you need each day. I have found that many marriages founder on one of two things, either money or sex.

Christ is all any of us could ever possibly need; let us then rejoice daily in His presence. May each of us be able to say truthfully, "The Lord is my Helper, whom shall I fear, what can man do unto me"?