August 8

TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE

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. Hebrews 13:5

​Memorize this Verse:
Cover the verse text and using just the first letters of each word try to recite the entire passage.
5. L Y C B W C A B C W S T A Y H F H H S I W N L T N F T

Notes on verse:

Lusting after material riches is “a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:10; 1 Timothy 3:3).

“I will never” (quoted from Gen. 28:15; Deut. 31:6, 8; Jos. 1:5; 1 Chron. 28:20). Believers can be content in every situation because of this promise. Several negatives are utilized in this statement to emphasize the impossibility of Christ deserting believers. It is like saying “there is absolutely no way whatsoever that I will ever, ever leave you.”

We are living in a materialistic generation. Many are teaching that all you have to do is ask for anything you want and God will give it to you. This is not what God promised at all. God has promised to give us our needs, not to furnish our greed. Paul gave the best advice to all of us when he said whatever position he found himself in, he was satisfied.

Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, [therewith] to be content.” “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

We are told to seek first the things of God.

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?”

Matthew 6:34 “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day [is] the evil thereof.”

One of the worst sins in our society today is that people want what their neighbor has. Most are not very willing to wait until they can afford it, they want it now. Many will even take things that really do not belong to them by force if necessary. Greed has overcome.

Luke 12:15-20 “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” “And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:” “And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?” “And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.” “And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry.” “But God said unto him, [Thou] fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?”

You see we brought nothing into this world, and it is for certain we will take nothing out with us. Lay up your treasures in heaven.

1 Timothy 6:6-8 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” “For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out.” “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”

TODAY'S BIBLE READING

August 8
Today's Bible Reading Plan selections can be found below. If you don't have a Bible with you, just click the references to read each passage online:

Old Testament
Ezra 10  —  7.5 minutes
Proverbs 8  —  6.0 minutes

New Testament
Luke 15:11-32  —  5.5 minutes
1 Timothy 5:16-25  —  2.0 minutes

Total Average Read Time — 21.0 minutes