Hebrews 13:5, commentary and pictures

To live without covetousness is to keep heart and habits and speech free from selfish grasping and faultfinding, and to rest satisfied with what is presently possessed even when God's plans differ from hope and pain and poverty press.
The pledge to never leave nor forsake repeats God's word to Israel in Canaan, spoken now by Jesus Himself who gave His life and ever lives to intercede, and made present through the Holy Spirit as constant Helper and Comforter.
He is wholly dependable to all who trust and cling to Him and commit their keeping to Him, holding them more firmly than they hold to Him and proving a very present help, guard and refuge when human help fails.
That assurance is given on condition of obedience and whole surrender and standing at the post of duty, yet He remains true even when a person has forsaken Him, calling the discouraged and disobedient to return rather than lie down in sorrow.
Therefore believers need not fear what people do nor borrow trouble about the future, but may boldly declare the Lord is helper, labor on for souls with tireless hope, and live kindly and rejoicingly where they are, content within their means.

Words and Original Promise

The word rendered conversation means disposition and habits of life, conduct and life itself, and speech. Life and speech are to be kept free from covetousness and satisfied with present possessions because of God's promised abiding presence and care. For those who labor for God this means being minute-men not hindered from duty by worldly interest, rather than letting the world come between themselves and God's work and divide their interest. Pure speech seasoned with grace belongs to this freedom, so that conversation is in heaven and not upon the faults of others, with wisdom from God, sanctified hearts, level heads, and sanctified tongues. Wanting to use means for worldly enterprises rather than God's work shows the opposite covetous spirit, since avarice, worldliness, and covetousness oppose Christian graces.

To be content with such things as are possessed means to be satisfied with present possessions and to rest in the assurance that God will not abandon His people. Contentment means accepting God's plans even when they differ from hoped-for outcome, trusting His wisdom and goodness through suffering. Surrendering the will to Him brings peace and comfort even in severe suffering, because He works to transform the believer into the image of His Son and accomplish His will. In pain and weakness this promise is the ground for trust, reliance on Him as Helper, and finding grace, peace, and comfort. Even in severe poverty having only a little food for immediate needs does not mean being forgotten, and needed help arrives for the work, as when unexpected money came at the time of need. Dissatisfaction comes from the heart, so changing place or employment does not by itself change it; contentment requires inward improvement and learning to live kindly, patiently, and helpfully where one is.

The words he hath said repeat God's promise to Israel in Canaan that He would not abandon them. That assurance did not remove their duty to wage an active campaign to possess the land.

The speaker of the promise is Jesus Himself, who gave His life, and who lives to intercede and will never leave or abandon His own. Being treated unfairly is no excuse for turning away from Him, because His abiding presence remains and enables standing with hand in His hand and boldly declaring freedom from fear of what people may do. Resting by faith in Christ's merits gives confidence that Jesus lives to intercede amid Satan's harassment and severe trials for those who commit themselves to Him. He lives as Saviour and very present help in trouble who never leaves nor forsakes the believer even in bereavement and the most trying situation, giving fortitude. He would not forsake His disciples but would give them power and serve as their Advocate at the Father's right hand, presenting petitions made in His name, a promise they did not fully understand at first but later treasured as they prayed to the Father in Jesus' name. He lives and pleads moment by moment for those who commit the keeping of their souls to Him, calling for earnest, persevering, untiring, lifelong effort for eternal life, never weary in well-doing and never discouraged, with good courage ever looking up to Him as the eternal reward. As personal Saviour and Advocate who never leaves those who trust Him, His unfailing keeping is reason not to worry, doubt, fail, or be discouraged when temptation comes, trials and perceived injustice stir feelings, and darkness presses sore; trusting His immeasurable love means walking humbly, learning His meekness and lowliness, moving cautiously, making straight paths, and pressing forward and upward to the high calling into an experience richer than gold, because His hand draws from the precipice to solid ground.

Christ fulfills the promise to remain through the Holy Spirit, who is Christ's representative and constant helper. The Spirit is the Comforter given for the asking with omnipotent power, God being more willing to give Him than parents are to give good gifts to children, to sustain those who fight the good fight of faith daily and bear trials patiently to be refined, purified, ennobled, and elevated, even when very great troubles come and satanic powers stir with intensity to work suffering, disaster, ruin, and misery as far as permitted. His Holy Spirit, His providences, and the teachings of His Word are the agencies by which He instructs, leads by counsel, makes goodness pass before the trusting one, and proves Himself a very present help in need, so the believer may say with humble firm confidence that this God is God forever. By the Holy Spirit Christ is formed within those who look to Him, and the Spirit keeps working until they are changed into His likeness, accompanying change of spirit and purpose, growing love for God, and hunger for righteousness. The Spirit is the largest promise and strongest consolation Christ could leave after His departure to do them good. His representative is present wherever believers go or make their home to strengthen, bless, sustain, and uphold, so that knowing Jesus lives, knows all about sore trials, loves, works in their behalf, and never leaves those who cling to Him with heart, soul, and mind, they can bear otherwise overwhelming trials, lift up the head and rejoice instead of becoming discouraged, moving hastily, or planning for self.

What Covetousness Forbids

Freedom from covetousness forbids looking out for selfish interest, desiring means for selfish purposes, and coveting what others possess. It forbids stirring sympathy by talk of supposed needs to obtain what givers need more and can ill afford, gathering unearned means from brethren, overreaching, making unfair bargains, advantaging self at another's disadvantage, and treating another's loss as opportunity for gain. For a minister of Christ such dealing is peculiarly offensive, sacrifices reputation and influence, reproaches the cause, and is incompatible with preaching Christ. Time, labor and means belong wholly to the work of God rather than to personal concerns, home and farm cares, trading for gain, and receiving support from the treasury and from poorer brethren without sympathy and close investigation.
The verse is the protest of the Ruler of the universe against the greed of the natural heart, against working out self-will, trampling righteous principles, and ignoring divine wisdom in order to get rich quickly. It condemns making haste to be rich by speculation in lands and mines, by pursuit of money, worldly enterprises, lavish and needless spending, and worldly financial schemes, whether pursued directly or urged upon others for investment. Such restless desire for wealth displaces love for Christ, opposes Christian graces, brings trials, leads away from God, harms spiritual life and influence, and would have spared much trouble if heeded. Applied to money it requires living within means and restraining wants rather than using means for worldly purposes instead of God's work.
In God's institutions it forbids covetous grasping for control, display and gain at the heart of the work and in councils and board meetings. It forbids confederating power, erecting buildings for show, dictating over others, oppressing God's heritage, building prosperity on the ruins of truth, righteousness and justice, and all unjust, covetous dealing in institutional affairs. Every unjust transaction is seen, and betrayal by those who had great light and trampled divine precepts will not go unpunished. The oppressed will be delivered, humble men will be raised up to do the divine will, and riches, honor and life come by humility and the fear of the Lord.
It condemns making self the main center, demanding to be specially favored, cherishing grievances, and scattering away from Christ. Obedience instead puts others' welfare before self-interest, stands shoulder to shoulder with brethren, brings every entrusted talent to help in the work, and trusts divine nearness with bold confidence that the Lord is helper without fear of what people do.
Covetousness and avarice are selfish sins that dishonor God and spoil the work where they are allowed part. They prove a snare and overthrow if continued in, for as eyes turn upon self, interest in the prosperity of the cause and love for poor souls and for the truth lessen gradually and imperceptibly until the time of change can hardly be told. When the world comes between the worker and the work and divides interest, the power of truth goes out, little real earnest labor is accomplished, influence ends unless checked, and a great change is needed to bring the worker into working order. Prosperity and possessions themselves can become such a snare, drawing into worldly schemes and ties.
Safety lies in living the word as well as hearing it, looking constantly to Jesus, practicing His lessons, and reaping what is sown as well-balanced Christians. The example to follow is Christ, not erring men, with time, labor and means used wholly for God. Wanting to use means for worldly enterprises rather than God's work reveals the covetous spirit that must be overcome.

Promise of Abiding Presence

God never leaves nor forsakes those who put trust in Him, lean on Him, cling to Him and commit their keeping to Him. He is a wholly dependable helper, friend, counselor, physician and keeper who does not turn away or treat with indifference anyone who seeks Him, but remains a faithful and compassionate friend even when darkness obscures the view of Him. His presence and strength are available when believers feel weak or face fear, difficulty, trials and temptation, for He is at their side to help, enabling them to overcome through Christ rather than rely on their own strength, to place burdens in His hands and rely wholly on Him. He holds more firmly than they hold to Him, and belongs to all His people and not to a favored few. Those who love and trust Him are rich beyond measure in the wealth He gives, and those who serve Him humbly without exalting themselves may claim this promise as they work to save others and need not fail or be discouraged, but have firm reason to keep trusting through discouragement, affliction and circumstances that look dark while preserving integrity; remembering His love and sacrifice brings holy joy, calm, peace and love.

God keeps the promise even when a person has forsaken Him, remaining true while calling back the one who has been unfaithful. The assurance is directed to the discouraged, faultfinding, impatient one in peril of losing his soul, who once loved and studied the Bible but dishonored God by breaking His commandments. Instead of extinguishing his lamp as a light to the world by walking in the light of his own kindling and lying down in sorrow, he is urged to return to God rather than remain discouraged or turn away, because God has been faithful and promises abiding presence and a satisfying life.

The blessed assurance is given only on condition of obedience, faithfulness, whole surrender, holding fast, clinging to Him and standing at the post of duty where He places His servant with grace and power even amid contempt and opposition. His servants are as dear to Him as the apple of the eye, and in trial, want, perplexity and distress they are not alone but at every step hear Him bid them follow Him. The promise gives reason to hold confidence firm without wavering, to keep mind and heart fixed on God, and to seek victory over temptation. It requires holy boldness in claiming His word, submission when answers are delayed or withheld for good, and persevering integrity, patience and love for duty unto the crown of life.

The promise rests on God's revealed character as merciful and gracious, longsuffering, abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands and forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, yet by no means clearing the guilty. His eyes behold and His eyelids try the children of men, and as a God of knowledge He weighs actions, searches the heart and tries the reins, to give every man according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings. The promise does not excuse wrongdoing, and those who flatter themselves that He is not exact to punish wrongdoers while living in daily transgression of His law are warned that He will bring every work into judgment with every secret thing whether good or evil, for He has appointed a day to judge the world in righteousness when all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ to receive the things done in the body according to what was done, whether good or bad.

The assurance rests on Christ's enduring love and the price paid for redemption, in yielding honor, glory, royal throne and court, becoming poor that believers might be made rich, giving all His riches and glory and then His own precious life. He endured the agony in Gethsemane where the cup trembled in His hand and He prayed three times for it to pass and then submitted to God's will, strengthened by an angel to tread the bloodstained path to Calvary and drink the cup to its dregs, that by self-sacrifice His love might stand revealed and move men from transgression, with arms outstretched to clasp the repentant, believing ones to His heart with divine tenderness. After man cost so much He will not leave him now, for He is faithful that promised; He is an enduring, unchanging Friend who, though all worldly prospects fail and every earthly friend prove unfaithful and treacherous, is faithful still. His love, shown at Calvary, means He does not leave believers to fight in their own strength and does not cast them off even when they grieve Him, but continues to hold them close; His mercy and death are positive evidence He will not cast aside one who trusts Him, and His love does not fail disciples even in failure and anguish over failure. Satan's accusations that the conscientious, desponding soul tempted to distrust God or condemn herself does not love Jesus are lies, for she does love Him.

The promise may be personally claimed by living faith by every humble, earnest, trembling soul seeking to walk with God and before Him in the grace of Christ, whom God honors, upholds, and works in the heart to make pure and holy and fit by grace for service with Him. It is received not because persons are worthy or righteous, but because Christ is worthy and His righteousness is claimed for them.

The promise means God is a very present help in need, acting as helper, front guard and rear guard, staff, support, stronghold, refuge, shield and buckler whose grace is sufficient when human friendship fails and ties are severed. He makes His goodness pass before the trusting one and leads by His counsel, and His Holy Spirit, His providences and the teachings of His Word are the agencies by which He instructs and leads in the way of the Lord, understanding the situation, sustaining and guiding in judgment those who cling to Him. Jesus lives and stays with His afflicted child, so those in sadness and grief are to trust themselves in His hands, not worry, not think God has forgotten to be gracious, not grasp a burden He does not wish them to carry, and not place hope in the earth or in human beings, for He is their only hope and beholding His glory gives strength to keep hope in Him alone. Those who honor Him by doing what He says and who receive the promise by walking humbly before God and holding fast where they are prospering learn that with faith working by love there is nothing in which they are left, become a means of great good declaring His praises, and may say with humility yet firm confidence that this God is their God forever and ever.

God means just what He says and is to be believed and trusted like a little child, for He is better to His people than their fears and faithful to His pledged word. His love is a whole heaven of love, proved by giving a whole heaven for the world in Christ's precious life, and He stays with every soul who trusts in Him and never abandons one wholly surrendered to Him. When sincere prayer seems unanswered or deferred, He still keeps His word, requiring holy boldness in claiming it; when He withholds what is asked it is because granting it would harm the soul, and He instead gives what is for the person's good and His glory, requiring submission rather than rebellious selfishness insisting on its own way. Therefore present peace must not be disturbed by anticipated trials or borrowing trouble about the future crisis, for strength will come proportionate to the trial and no grace is given for troubles imagined beforehand. Believers are to repeat that He is keeper, diligently remember and recite past mercies and enjoy them daily, refuse unbelief, distrust, anxiety, repining, mournfulness and murmuring as dishonoring Him, take up work where they find it, encourage a cheerful hopeful frame of mind, live by faith daily, rejoice and praise God today and every day, pray at all times for God to teach His will, seek His melting subduing power to break the cold heart, and in sore conflict rest in holy confidence and blessed trust with hand in Christ's hand and feet on the Rock, secure from storm and tempest with Jesus as help in every time of need.

Comfort in Trial and Sorrow

God permits trials, hardship, discouragement and perplexity to strengthen confidence in Him and draw believers nearer, and His presence may be concealed amid hardship yet He keeps watch, does not let burdens exceed what can be borne, and is ready to deliver those who trust Him, bringing them through as gold purified.
The promise holds for the bereaved and those facing dark mysterious circumstances and repeated losses, for the fatherless orphan to whom God gives Himself as friend and father nearer and dearer than any earthly relatives when relatives shut themselves in selfishness, for the grieving woman assured that the Lord loves and will remain with her husband and children through their troubles, and for those in gloom from long disease.
It calls for intelligent and not impulsive service, implicit unwavering submission, taking up the appointed cross and following fully, refusing outbursts of grief, abandonment to grief, a morbid melancholy state, complaining and murmuring at providence, since undue grief is displeasing, while casting all burdens upon the Lord and resting wholly in the hands of Jesus in remembrance of His great love, self-denial and infinite sacrifice, which fills the heart with holy joy, calm peace and indescribable love and gives sweet peace, fortitude and grace to stand steadfast.

Jesus stays with His suffering children as sympathizing Redeemer, physician, righteousness and sufficiency, knowing suffering and giving reason to praise for mercies; He sees before He is seen, calls before answer is made, holds in mind before He is noticed, and carries from grace to grace.
With the sick, afflicted, aged and weak, in night pain, weariness, prostration and failing human strength, He gives rest to the meek and lowly who take His yoke, regards even the mind clouded by age as His child, and brings victory and the crown of life, so there is freedom from anxiety through simple reliance and childlike confidence without requiring extraordinary faith, with quiet rest without worry while awaiting the overcomer's reward and moment-by-moment fulfillment to those who refuse unbelief.
Trust in the promise gives present peace and must not be disturbed by anticipated trials or borrowing trouble about the future crisis, for strength comes proportionate to the trial and no grace is given beforehand for imagined troubles; to distrust or be filled with anxiety is unbelief.
Believers are therefore not to repine, be mournful, dwell on the dark side, imagine God's frown, or cry out that He has forsaken when poverty presses and dark clouds enshroud so no open way is seen, but to trust His love and mercy in darkness as in sunshine, fix trembling faith on sure promises, live by faith daily, diligently remember and recite past mercies, rejoice and praise today and every day, rest with hand in Christ's hand and feet on the Rock secure from storm, and hold confidence when Satan brings doubt by calling to mind past love and acceptance, until captivity turns to joy and gladness and the afflicted are raised to still live, endure, watch, wait and glorify His name.

Unjust imprisonment and persecution for truth do not mean God has ceased to reign or has forsaken; Jesus stays with sufferers for His sake, knows their troubles, and calls for trust, remembrance that suffering is for Him, and faith.
His mercy and death are positive evidence He will not cast aside one who trusts Him, against Satan's lying accusations and use of conscientiousness to bring despondency, self-condemnation and distrust.
The promise answers the enemy's claim that God has forsaken, giving comfort, salvation and courage amid danger, fear, affliction, poverty, disappointment, financial loss, uncertainty, danger from satanic stirring, and strange things among professed believers, so the afflicted are not to be discouraged or cast down.
So Luther is urged to face danger without fear because God remains, Job is restored after unjust treatment to renewed bodily health, mental strength, clearness and freedom of spirit with returned blessings and power to give freely, and past unfailing help proves God does not utterly forget nor forever forsake the faithful even when they err, but marks unjust decisions, takes the case into His own hands and works for His servant.

Christ's presence sustains even in grief and through the valley of death and comforts the dying, who are urged to trust God as a child trusts a parent and not be troubled, committing themselves to His keeping.
His witnesses after a life of struggle and faithfulness may rest in His love with reward of life and immortality and the crown of life.
That abiding presence removes fear of what people do and gives bold confidence to declare the Lord is helper, condemning making self the main center, demanding special favor, cherishing grievances and scattering from Christ, and calling instead to stand shoulder to shoulder, bring every entrusted talent to the work, and trust His nearness rather than seek advantage.
Jesus, tempted and tried in every way, knows how to rescue and strengthen the tempted, upholds integrity of conscience and steady forward movement in truth amid painful words and actions, rash speech, accusations and moral darkness, holds more firmly than any hold on Him over the broad waters of tried faith, guards His own by heavenly intelligences, and belongs to all His people and not to a favored few in sickness, bereavement and every trying trouble, so believers in meekness are not to doubt the Father's love nor murmur but believe, cling to infinite power, speak rightly with heavenly speech revealing Christ within, learn patience, faith and love for duty, and press on unto the crown for the overcomer.

Strength for God's Work

Because the pledge to remain with workers still stands, ministers are to keep toiling, praying and hoping amid discouragement and darkness as long as one soul may still be benefited. They are to labor for souls in peril with hopeful tireless energy, persevering faith and new courage at every effort, while striving for greater light and power from above and thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. With the crown of righteousness offered to the overcomer and with Christ pleading as Advocate for sinners, faith need not fail even under fire. Of themselves workers can do nothing and without the Spirit are utterly helpless, so their strength lies in hiding in Jesus, holding fast to the arm of Omnipotence and leaning upon Him, thus growing strong to do His will, and the pledge guards them from deception about what is coming upon the world, for God can do more in one moment to convict people than they can do in a lifetime. The same abiding upholds the worker whose heart is in the work as he feeds the flock with pure, plain, simple truth.

In carrying the gospel to every nation, obedient workers who work with Him and go forward in faith are accompanied to the farthest part of the world. His presence helps, guides, comforts, sanctifies and sustains them and gives success to their duty, even where opposition must be faced. He provides for the work and takes responsibility for it, and because the work belongs to God they can move forward in faith rather than by sight. Though powerful spiritual opposition contends against all who seek to save the perishing, they can act with courage and confidence because He is with them.

Teachers facing discouragement, hardship and trials are not abandoned, for He keeps watch over those who trust Him. His presence may be concealed, yet He does not let burdens exceed what can be borne, and He permits trials to strengthen confidence and draw them nearer to Himself as heavenly Father. He is ready to deliver those who trust in Him, giving constant care and reason for trust through hardship. Faithful canvassing evangelists are likewise to work and pray, using entrusted abilities for God's glory and relying in living faith on the power of the Holy Spirit, and God blesses their earnest efforts to share the truth with His attending converting power.

Those who stand at the post of duty where He has placed them are sustained by His presence, grace and power even amid contempt and opposition. When the testimony is unheeded and the word is despised, it is the messengers and message He sends that are despised, and His words of pledge must not be disregarded. Such steadfastness means preserving integrity of conscience, giving self wholly to truth and to God, moving steadily forward without losing heart or hope whatever trials beset the path and whatever moral darkness encompasses, learning patience, faith and love for duty, subduing self, looking to Jesus daily, and doing earnest solemn work for God while life lasts until the crown of life rests on the overcomer. An institution conducted in the fear of God will not be left, nor will His people be left in financial emergency over means for His work even when finances are in disagreeable shape and help seems unavailable. When He locates His work in a place, such as a school, the means to build it will come because He works on behalf of those who honor Him and love His commandments in answer to earnest prayer, even when there seems no prospect of securing help.

When God sets His hand to prepare the way before His ministers, it is their duty to follow where He directs with full purpose of heart. Those who follow His leadings wholeheartedly will never be forsaken nor left in uncertainty. He stays as helper and shield, so those engaged in His work can rely on His strength rather than their own, which is powerless without His Spirit.

Contented Daily Living

Dissatisfaction comes from the heart, so merely changing place or employment does not change it, and contentment requires inward improvement and learning to live kindly, patiently and helpfully where one is. Applied to money, freedom from covetousness means living within means, restraining wants, avoiding lavish and needless spending, and not pursuing worldly financial schemes or encouraging others to invest in them, since such pursuits harm spiritual life and Christian influence. The promise assures help and comfort in financial pressure and discouragement, for wages, food, travel, means for the work and family needs, so that having little or no money does not mean being forgotten, for help comes in time to provide and carry the work forward. Trusting and holding fast to faith is ground for courage because God remains helper and will not leave His people in an emergency over means for His work even when finances look disagreeable, and apparent losses suffered for Christ count as infinite gain. The trusting may rest without worry about wages for himself, his wife and children while God carries burdens such as the school, trusting Him fully to provide help and comfort.

Believers are to depend wholly on God and not on human strength, wisdom, sympathy or recognition, seeking Him as counselor, friend and guide in loneliness, perplexity and every matter. This calls for complete dependence rather than being led by other people's persuasion, refusing to let others empty their minds into the mind or lead by persuasion into false paths, and instead seeking His help in prayer for consecrated service. Christian service may involve trials, conflict and temptation, and the promise is not freedom from these but that Christ remains with His people through them. His presence and promise give reason to trust Him for help and guidance through His Spirit, providences and Word, and to say with humble yet firm confidence that He is God forever. By these agencies He instructs and leads in the way of the Lord, making His goodness pass before the trusting one and leading by His counsel as a very present help in time of need.

Wisdom from God is needed, with sanctified hearts, level heads, pure speech seasoned with grace and sanctified tongues, so that conversation is in heaven and not upon the faults of others, for He will not leave the honest and willing and obedient whom He loves with infinite love. This supports trusting Him for guidance rather than depending on human wisdom, with confidence while making practical decisions, yet without replacing acting wisely and carefully. Because He has said He will never leave, believers may boldly declare the Lord is helper without fear of what people do, committing themselves to His keeping through life, work and death. While a person trusts in God He never lets go or leaves that person to perish, for His hand holds more firmly than anyone can hold to Him, and Jesus lives and goes with believers over the broad waters when faith is tried, belonging to all God's people and not to a favored few. Therefore in sickness, bereavement and however trying the trouble, with the meekness and lowliness of Christ there is to be no doubting of God's love as loving heavenly Father nor murmuring, but believing and clinging to the arm of infinite power.

Therefore believers can rejoice and be glad, not looking at the hellish work of the powers of darkness until hope and courage fail, but letting faith pierce the blackness of Satan's shadow and resting in light and rejoicing in the light of the Sun of Righteousness, secure as hid with Christ in God with hopes of eternal life centered in Him alone, talking faith and hope and courage and diffusing light. Present peace must not be disturbed by anticipated trials or borrowing trouble about the future crisis, for strength will come proportionate to the trial and no grace is given for troubles imagined beforehand, so His people must not repine or be mournful or filled with anxiety, but live by faith daily, diligently remember and recite past mercies, rejoice and praise God today and every day, and in sore conflict rest in holy confidence with hand in Christ's hand and feet on the Rock, secure from storm with Jesus as help in every time of need. Jesus knows afflictions and will help, enabling rejoicing in His mercy, for He is better to His people than their fears. The promise sustains through home troubles with assurance that He will not abandon or forsake, gives ground for ceasing to worry about loved ones by believing they have good care from God, much better care than human care can give, and makes God a very present help in time of need in whom the soul can rest with sweet peace.

It assures a woman whose husband is often away or labors elsewhere that she need not be left or forsaken but may have the Lord's presence, blessing and constant care, and it comforts a family concerned about wages and material needs with help and comfort. Christ sympathizes with the young, hears the contrite person's prayer, and is present to help in every time of need, giving strength for sincere efforts to form good character on the foundation of trust. To those whose sins are forgiven Jesus promises never to leave nor forsake but to be with them always even unto the end as best Friend in close companionship, so there is no excuse for losing sight of Him, separating from Him and keeping company with the prince of darkness by entertaining his suggestions and acting out his plans. The repentant in struggle against sin and evil are not abandoned but must rely on God, resist Satan, make full surrender to Christ, walk humbly in meekness and press upward to the high calling. Those who honor Christ by doing what He has told them learn for themselves that God is Helper in every emergency right by their side, and with faith that works by love and purifies the soul there is nothing in which they are left or forsaken, for God brings them through victoriously to the crown of life.