Christian Ethics, Pt. 2: The Principles of Contentment B

God says I want you to be in a word, godliness with contentment is really been rich in your the rich man is a man who has all that he needs and the knowledge of God is everything 11 men has everything has not pricey is nothing is pricing as dollars. Adjusting for inflation. He is arguably the wealthiest person ever. Well, it said that when he was asked how much money would be enough.

Rockefeller answered just a little bit more now friend.

If you've ever struggled to be content if you found yourself wishing for a bit more of something or maybe a lot more stay here today as John MacArthur continues his look at the link between contentment and a life of righteousness. It's part of a series titled the integrity factor.

And here's John in the book of Hebrews in the 13th chapter he lays down the principles of conduct that can bring about the salvation of others and joy to our own selves there. Three things I want to look at in this chapter. Sooner or later when I get to the one is ethics to his example and three is energy. If you want to live the kind of life we ought to live in on it when you know the ethics one of the standards.

Secondly, when you have an example when you have a pattern to follow. No third Avenue to have the energy or the power to do it so we need the standards. The example and the energy first of all over the ethics we told you there were three categories of Christian conduct three categories of practical Christian living one in relation to others.

Right, and that he begins the chapter with in verses 1 to 3 in those verses. He lays down to basic features of Christian conduct toward others.

The first one was sustained love sustained love.

We saw that verse one. Let brotherly love continue this a second to think that we want to just mention by way of review not only sustained love, but sympathy and this really comes out of love. It's just another dimension of and that's in verse three remember them that are in bonds is bound with them, you know really what sympathy is to suffer with literally empathy to get inside and feel what somebody feels you have to be a selfless person to do that if people are in prison you feel that those who suffer adversity as being yourselves also in the flesh in your own body you know what people go through when they go through pain that sympathy, I second what about the Christians conduct in relation to himself to ourselves how I conduct myself toward myself to live the kind of life that is witness to the world and joy to me.

How do I lift up my cell number one sexual purity, sexual purity, the word sex is become ill. There were taboos and in the past and you know sex was a word. It was a taboo many years ago just didn't say that word is a terrible word and now sexes that is everywhere is another taboo today and what were taboos today. Death want to really mess up a conversation fast just interject that because living in a hedonistic society where the moment is everything in sexes become the way of life. Death is the thing nobody wants to face the choice of sexual purity. Verse four marriage is honorable in all, and really we told you should be transited.

Let marriage be honorable in all, let the bed be undefiled for fornicators and adulterers God will judge sexual purity. We live in a world it's gone crazy over sex is not the people's desires are any differences that a society let them do more things Aldo and Romans chapter 1 says they get real cleverly invent new things.

People in our society are gone crazy in the area of sexual fulfillment.

When two people allow their passions to run away with each other when two people allow themselves to get caught in a compromising situation sexually. Let me tie some friends. It is not that they love each other too much is that they don't love each other enough is that they love each other too little to respect each other's purity before God. I say to you, if a guy comes to you girls and says I love you so much. Give me what I want. He doesn't love you very much at all is love hasn't developed where the most important thing in his life is your beauty and purity and holiness when he sees you like that, then he really loves you.

Now you say what is this a cynical and wise is a sin against ourselves will.

That's what Paul said you see in first Corinthian 618, he said, flee fornication for every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he that committed fornication.

Corneille sex in sins against his own body. You see, you have to live with this in your own flesh. This is a sin against your own body. The purity of your own body has been to file.

So God says I desire, sexual purity and was a tragic thing. I never forget a college could come the one time just shattered. I mean she was a mess and she said you know I have only been a Christian little time in the I got into a youth group and the president of the youth group was the first Christian ever met and one night he asked me out on a date and I thought the first Christian I have ever gone out and I thought all how wonderful to be out of the Christian how different it will be from what I'm use to. She went out with this guy and before the night was over.

He had destroyed her purity and she was destroyed she was shaken and shattered and torn individual and the whole of Christianity crashed with that guy she was shattered. The last I knew her life was just destroyed.

That's tragic and that isn't the only time it's happened are purity in the sexual area is so very, very important and while God is not against sex. He invented and not saying he knows what he's doing.

It's a beautiful thing.

It's a fulfilling thing, and in marriage.

Nothing sexual within the bounds of reason is wrong. Outside of marriage. Everything is wrong. The point is God desires purity fleas, sex, sin run running when you see Joseph Aranda Potter for his wife. She thought all Joseph was really a good catch. So she got all Joseph in the in the bedroom. There and she started seducing Joseph United.

The only smart thing he ran he didn't say now, I'd like to tell you where I stand on this. The bailout and on the way she grabbed his coat and that's what got them in jail but got exulted in the knee just run just pack up and get out.

You never said how can I do this wickedness and sin against God. You think you did know that was sin. I heard Christian people who said they didn't think sex outside of marriage was wrong.

Joseph said it was a sin and a wickedness against God. If you need some evidence. Genesis 30 990 to be sufficient.

You know David it got up there in his roof and looked over there and saw that honey Bathsheba and he managed to bring Bathsheba into his presence and killed her husband, and he knew what he did when it was all over members words in Psalm 51 Forest what he said against the and the only have I sinned, and done this evil. He knew it was wrong. Personal purity is always a battle to battle for everybody Casa Paulson first print is 927 I beat my body to bring it into what subjection and not today. Satan tempts and with all the media you just have a hard time getting a wife with a comes a time when you need to you need to run so many Christians have had their testimony destroyed and their own personal joy sucked right out of because of sinister well.

The second thing in terms of an ethic really involving ourselves is not only sexual purity but satisfaction verse five. Let your manner of life be without covetousness and be content with such things as you have, for he has said I'll never leave the nor for sake the there's another thing satisfaction not only sexual purity but towards ourselves. We need to have satisfactorily satisfied what you have.

This follows very closely on the idea of of sexual activity because you know that's a great area of temptation is just because you're married doesn't mean that sometimes it doesn't tempt you long after someone else the forbidden one that's covetousness and covetousness is a terrible evil. Whether it's coveting your neighbor's wife, or whether it's coveting money or things or possessions material thing, whatever it is it's a gross thing.

In fact, the leaders of the early church couldn't have that as a part of the character at all in the first Timothy 33 it says that bishops are not to be given the wine nut was a link alongside their wine in the Greek nonviolent, not greedy of filthy lucre that's that's just not a lot and not only that positivity in the same book 6 chapter 6 verse but godliness with contentment is what great game you are to be rich. Godliness and contentment. Spurgeon said one time he said in all my life is I've been in a lot of testimony meetings and I've heard a lot of people share how their lives. Sin is and I had people come to me and make confession of sin in my life. He said I never had one person confess the sin of covetousness to me and I read anybody confess to me that a lot of sins confess I got a look at my office a John, I just have to confess my sin. He was a broken up guy and we just pray together and he said my sin is gluttony. And I said you look terrific you not even overweight because I know but old do I want to be.

He said I crave it and I only fight against it and's discontinuous there a lot of sins of people confess, but I stand were Spurgeon does nobody ever confessed to me there covered which you know some that's a sin that everyone of us fights is be honest the biggest thing the better thing more money, promotion, bigger house, bigger car. This is a temptation for all of us. I should close all the settings and is a very serious thing.

God says I want you to be in a word satisfied godliness with contentment is really being rich you're the rich man is a man who has all that he needs in the knowledge of God is everything you'll ever need. That's what the verse says, be content with such easy have for he had said never leave you or forsake you so that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper, I will not fear what measure doing to me to go where they got one like it.

Now you know these Hebrews, to whom he is writing you lost a lot and they never chapter 10 verse 32 to 34 is is you lost everything and it might have been a few of them can assemble really get back what we lost. They would get sidetracked on earn back their wages and get back their money in and try to find their inheritances that they had been robbed of and they were maybe digging back in that direction. So he simply says to the pages be satisfied with and don't worry if somebody took everything you have. If you have the Lord you got it all deleted if a man has everything and has not Christ. He is nothing if he has nothing as Christ. He has everyyear and lose it anyway, either here or now or next few weeks the next few months. But when you die when Jesus comes along want to myself how people can amass fortunes in this world and then when you confess to God's work.

You see what covetousness did for Adam for bailing who loved the wages of unrighteousness. The Bible says what covetousness misted for Aiken. That's it.

Don't take anything.

A lot of things buried in a hole in his tent thought God couldn't find a put in this whole Carl never knows what covetousness to the Judas and what covetousness did Ananias and Sapphire lied to the Holy Spirit and drop dead right in the front of the church. Covetousness is a very serious synagogue deals with it very very seriously. Believe me, it is not a trifle of the most common form of covetousness is the love of money lusting after material riches. I want to look at the verse five, but your manner of life be without covetousness the word without covetousness is one word in the Greek off a larger us that comes from three words three words three words is what we call an alpha privity which negates the word for L needs to like our terrace means silver covetous means to like silver to love money for larger us means to be without the love of money and choices you should be satisfied without the love of silver. If you begin to love money, you are sinning against God, nor the result will be ineffective testimony and lack of joy in your life. Luke 1215 and he said unto them, take heed and beware of covetousness for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses. Yet that's not life. That's not life lusting after material riches sin. Now I'm not saying it's wrong to have money is just wrong to lust after the Bible doesn't say money is the root of all evil. It says what the love of money is the root of all evil. In fact, you know, Deuteronomy 818 says God is the one who gives you power to get wealth that some of the wealthiest men in the world were godly men weren't a Job Abraham and even today. But here's the key exhortation. Don't forget Psalm 6210.

Listen to this. If riches increase they might watch set not thine heart upon them.

Did you hear that that's the key. You may get it if you get all of it and that's exactly where the injunction needs to be given in Job 31 we read in verse 24. If I have made gold. My hope or have said to the Feingold thou art my confidence. They put all his governance and money if I rejoice because my will is great because mine hand had gotten much if I beheld the sun would shine or the moonwalking and brightness, and he goes on and on about all these things he comes down to verse 28. This also was an iniquity to be punished by the judge, for I should have denied the God who is above the mantle of money is not God's recent there is no place for covetousness in first Timothy chapter 6, the marriage of these words and these are important words and there's much here in verse six 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 there with content. You have food and clothing. The content where you get that God promise to give you that your other worry about what you shall eat your other worry what you show where know your other worry, no, dear, worry yes but they that will be rich fall into temptation. It doesn't say the rich follow the temptations as they that will be written or think of John D. Rockefeller. Once I was asked how much money want to set $1 million, made a million fingers in which one is it on the million is the law of decreasing satisfaction. They will be rich fall into temptation and a snare into many foolish, hurtful lust, which drown men in destruction and perdition for the love of money is the root of all evil.

While some having coveted after, even. They have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Watch what thou man of God for you these things we just heard that back about sexual purity tooted here to standards for the believers own life.

Sexual purity and satisfaction run from sexual sin and run from compass don't ever get into the position where you're more concerned about your bank balance in your spiritual life dear to learn to be content with whatever you, the psalmist says in Psalm 37.

I've been around long time.

I love this and I've never seen God's children doing what baking bread naked. Ecclesiastes thought of her staring is 510 he that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver nor he that loveth abundance with increase in that interesting. It's a law of diminishing returns. The more you have, the more you want people are kept from salvation by the love of money and Christians are kept from July their raw will be covetous.

They quote some 118 verse six the Lord is your helper what you want to fear a Steeler league where you can. This content is soon beloved. Discontent is sin say will John, I'd like to be content how I how can I really be content. How can I get off this thing of wanting money, and one the layaway money and being all absorbing money and spending it feel you can you can loan the money comes in all forms in getting it.

Some people expressed their love of money and getting it see building up making more some people expressed a lot of money and keeping it. See, just my user you know every dime they give is like blood. See other people expressed their love of money by throwing around in front of everybody see all forms of the love of money. How do you get content how you get over that hump me just give you some quick things. First of all realization of God's goodness. I think contentment comes when you realize God is good. Did you hear that Paul said all things work together for good to them that love God all said my God shall supply what all your needs.

You know God's good if he's good will lease it will take care you okay is nothing you want to be content.

Realize God is omniscient. What that means. He notes what you need before you ever what ask.

He knows what you need, you can put Psalm 37 down there, 18, 19 and 25 receive the Lord's children baking bread. Luke 1230. The third thing realize this to be content. Realize what you deserve to sit down.

What I really deserve you be content.

Genesis 3210.

Listen to this. I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies that right that's right you know what I have everything I have. I don't deserve. I'm rich, I'm rich.

He was a mouse.

Realize God's supremacy that is realize that God will give you what he thinks you need and you supply what you need for all the things in your life and realize that for some people. God wants them to be poor and for others.

He wants him to be rich and has a plan. First Samuel 27 interesting verse the Lord maketh poor and maketh rich you know that the Lord's in charge of all that he raises up the poor out of the desk, lifted up the bigger from the refuse to set them among princes and the make them inherit the throne of glory. In other words, of a guy comes from nowhere to somewhere God brought God makes the poor.

God makes the rich God brings people up that come from nowhere and earn fortunes just realize he's omniscient. He knows who gets what and he's also powerful he gives who gets what he supreme the fifth thing to realize is this realize what true riches really are, you know who's really poor. The world Colossians 32 set your affection on things above, not what on things only you really know true riches you really know what is rich you're so rich in Christ. Contentment then comes from realization of all those say then secondly it comes from communion you spend time with God. We take the longer you concentrate on his glory, the less you going to care about money when you're lost in Jesus Christ.

You are so overwhelmed with how rich you are, that you could care less about anything else. So realization of just community.

Well, the world passed away everything it right so you don't want to lay up treasure on earth laid up in heaven was pretty father, we thank you. We pray that we might be able to bring to site to mind all of the thoughts that the spirit has planted within us father, may we as Christians realize we have an obligation before the world to live a life such a life that men can see our good works and no consistency with what we say and give glory to our father in heaven and father such a consistent life that we know the full joy that Jesus gave Jesus you're listening to Grace to you with the verse by verse teaching of John MacArthur. Today's lesson is part of his series titled the integrity factor.

John, in light of what you're saying in the series about the consequences of sin be thinking about this event and you know a lot of people define sin as that which is hurtful to others and they think will there's no victim, then there's no real crime here, you know, my actions may be wrong. According to Scripture, but at least I'm not hurting anybody but myself. One of the dangers of thinking like that. First of all, you've just ignored the basic definition of sin right in the basic definition of sin came out of the Lipson pin of the psalmist when he said against you and you only have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight and he was talking to God.

Psalm 51. Interesting to because he was confessing that he is sin with Bathsheba. He said against hurry sinned against her husband. We had murdered and yet when he confesses that he says only sinned against you, God, right because he understood that that was the point at which his guilt was the most severe he saw soon for what it really was at its core, it was a sin against God, and there is no soon that does not strike a blow of rebellion against God. There is no sin that does not deny God to his rightful place.

There is no sin. That is not an act of disobedience against God's law and God's will. There is no sin. That is not an affront to God, you, you may hide your sin from men.

You may think your sin has no consequence, but the reality of it is it has consequence with the purest judge of all God himself who judges sin down to the most minute element that many other people wouldn't even know but he knows that's how you have to think of your sin as sin against God. That's its primary offense and then of course it stretches beyond that, I know that that we don't like to grapple with sin in our lives. At that deep level but we should be doing that. That's honestly how Christians should live. We we continually should be first John one the ones confessing our sins to God and receiving from him. Forgiveness what offer you a copy of a booklet I've written called freedom from sin right freedom from sin. It takes you through Romans seven the most detailed vivid account in Scripture of the believers battle was sin the booklet freedom from sin.

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It's our gift to you request your copy free TTY.or call us at 855 if you're looking for more resources that will help you grow spiritually. This is a great time for that right now nearly everything we sell is 25% off the regular price and on select versions of the MacArthur study Bible will save even more than 25% to order a study Bible, or one of John's commentaries or another resource. Call 805 Grace or go to TTY.L4 John MacArthur on Phil Johnson reminding you to watch Grace to you television this Sunday. Check your local listings for channel and times and be here when John continues his study called the integrity factor with another half hour unleashing God's truth one verse at a time on tomorrow's race to