Hebrews 13:5 “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.”
An Old English Etymology Dictionary explains that from the fourteenth century, the word “conversation” often referred to a “”place where one lives or dwells,” also “general course of actions or habits, manner of conducting oneself in the world,” both senses now obsolete”. And, the Greek Dictionary explains that the Greek word that is translated “conversation”, means ‘deportment or character, a way of living’. Thus, the message to us is that we must live our lives “without covetousness”; that is, without lusting after things and positions and powers that are not ours to have. We ought to work to improve our situation in life and to care for ourselves and our families; but, “covetousness” is lusting after and striving to have things just for the glory of having them while neglecting worshipful service to our Lord. If we are not careful, those things that we covet will soon become our gods, and we will begin to neglect our worshipful service to the Lord as we pursue that which we covet. The opposite of “covetousness” is being “content with such things as ye have”. This blessed contentment rises from the joy and peace we receive in our worshipful service to the Lord; for, the Lord and His Church and His Beloved People and His Holy Word are of far greater value to us than more THINGS. As for our needs, our gracious and merciful Lord “hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”; that is, He will never fail to help us, deliver us, comfort us, strengthen us, and supply our needs! He tells us to “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these [necessary] things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). We can be “content”; for, our Lord Jesus Christ is the Almighty “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11) that continuously watches over His Precious Flock!