Ways to Honor God

1 Let love of the brethren continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. 3 Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. 4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge. 5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” 6 so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”

Hebrews 13

AIM

To teach the Christians some things we need to continue or to guard against doing if we want to honor the Lord with our lives and our homes.

INTRODUCTION

The thirteenth chapter of Hebrews is filled with moral directions to show the kind of attitudes, actions and sacrifices God’s people should live out each day in order to please Him and glorify His Holy Name. The writer of Hebrews offers a great list of ways to honor God.

CONTINUE IN LOVE

Hebrews 13:1 NASB95

1 Let love of the brethren continue.

Brotherly love must be continued at all times. There is no greater witness for our Lord than our love for each other.

John 13:34–35 NASB95

34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:

Our love for each other is proof of our salvation to the world. It is one of the greatest ways to be a witness to those who are lost. Many will have a great desire to know they Lord when God’s people love each other.

Hebrews 13:2 NASB95

2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:2

Showing hospitality to strangers in the home provided an important basis for friendship in the Middle East. It was a common practice for them feed strangers and give them lodging during their travels.

Showing hospitality to strangers in the home provided an important basis for friendship in the middle east.

This verse reminded me of a stranger who came through our church community in the early 80s when we lived near Richmond, KY. The man was hiking around the United States and was eating whatever was provided each day and staying where ever he could during the night. On his way home from work, one of our deacons saw this man walking, gave him a ride, took him to the community store, gave him twenty dollars, brought him to the our church educational building to spend the night and asked me to check on him the next morning. Even though I did not share the burden of the Lord’s deacon, I checked on him the next morning, fed him breakfast, let him shower in our bathroom and sent him on his way. I was extremely uncomfortable around him because I was concerned if he was going to harm or kill my daughters and me. The only thing I could think about while he was out of our sight in the bathroom was wondering what he was stealing. We never saw him again. Was the stranger an angel of whom I was unaware?

I remember another incident in Rockwood several years ago when a stranger came through town in a white van. He appeared to be a very poor person who was traveling to Texas and ran out of money. All he asked for some food to eat and fuel for his van. Our benevolence committee called an emergency meeting and, after a lot of discussion, decided we would help him with his needs. The one thing I distinctly remember from our benevolence committee discussion was everyone thinking he might have been an angel sent by the Lord to test our church with this man’s needs. We never saw him again. Was the stranger an angel of whom we were unaware?

We might consider the things we do for others as a way of ministering our Lord.

Matthew 25:31–46 NASB95

31 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 “All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats; 33 and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left. 34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ 41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44 “Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ 45 “Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Matthew 25:31-

We never know when we are showing love to our Lord by ministering to others.

Hebrews 13:3 NASB95

3 Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.

This is a reference to prisoners who are being incarcerated for their faith in Jesus. The New Testament is filled with stories of disciples who were mistreated and imprisoned for their faith in Jesus.

Holman New Testament Commentary: Hebrews & James 1. To Believers with Special Needs (vv. 1–3)

We need to identify and help those imprisoned and mistreated for their Christian commitment. Such help could involve bringing food, providing warm clothing for life in damp, moldy cells, and making personal visits of encouragement. One day we could face the same experiences of suffering. Thus, we need to focus on the sufferers as if we ourselves were the victims of suffering.

We may not see Christians suffer for their faith in our country like we read about in some of our denominational materials or see on television, but we can pray for those who are mistreated and imprisoned.

THE HONOR OF MARRIAGE

Hebrews 13:4 NASB95

4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Holman New Testament Commentary: Hebrews & James 2. To the Family (vv. 4–6)

Both Jewish and pagan marriages in the New Testament period were characterized by laxity and immorality. Christians have a different approach to marriage. Purity, contentment, and a trust in God are ingredients needed for developing strong Christian families. Two pro-marriage ideas appear in this verse.

First, marriage is to be honored by all. Even among believers today the stability of marriage faces strong challenges. Christians must honor marriage as divine in its origin and as right and good in its practice. This verse helps us to see that celibacy is not superior to marriage.

Second, those who are married must maintain moral purity. The fact that God will judge sexual promiscuity provides motivation for a holy lifestyle among believers. Violators of this command may be celebrated by some human beings, but they will reap eternal divine displeasure (Eph. 5:6).

There may be very few things proven to destroy a marriage quicker than denial of intimacy between a husband and wife which leads to unfaithfulness in the relationship. Fornication and adultery have almost irreparable consequences to the home and will be punished by the Lord.

CONTENTMENT WITH GOD’S BLESSINGS

CONTENTMENT

Hebrews 13:5–6 NASB95

5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” 6 so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”

Hebrews 13:5

The Hebrews were encouraged to guard against materialism. They were very familiar with God’s provision and care for them while they were in the wilderness after leaving over four-hundred years of bondage in Egypt.

Our own country could benefit greatly from these words. We have become so materialistic, we have pushed God out of our lives and, in many instances, are no longer thankful for God’s bountiful blessings. Materialism can interrupt the stability of marriage and destroy relationships as well as homes.

Materialism can interrupt the stability of marriage and destroy relationships as well as homes.

Paul mentions two specific areas to guard against materialism. The first is the love of money and the second is being content with what you have in this life.

1 Timothy 6:7–12 NASB95

7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money 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. 11 But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Paul continued his instructions to the wealthy toward the end of his letter.

1 Timothy 6:7-

1 Timothy 6:17–19 NASB95

17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.

We are encouraged to believe God is our helper and to never fear what any person can do to us.

Holman New Testament Commentary: Hebrews & James 2. To the Family (vv. 4–6)

The question, What can man do to me? presumes the answer: “Nothing at all!” With God’s presence, no event in life can shake believers from their foundation. Anxiety about life’s needs or challenges has no place in the heart of the believer who has determined to make God his helper.

1 Timothy 6:17-19

CONCLUSION

On a scale of one to ten, how would you rate your love for others, especially your brothers and sisters in Christ? How are things in your home? Do you still hold your marriage in honor? Are you content with the blessings God has given you?