you shall not covet - eagle christian...

You Shall Not

CovetExodus 20:17

(cf. Deuteronomy 5:21)

“You Shall Not Covet”

The 10th Command Simply Put• Don’t covet anything that belongs to

others—not their house, their spouse, their servants, their animals, or any of their property.


Commandments• #6—Murder• #7—Adultery• #8—Stealing• #9—Perjury

What Does It Mean

to Covet?

“You shall not covet …”


Covet (לחמוד)• To have an unhealthy desire to the point

of seeking to take away or own something that belongs to another person (i.e., our neighbor).


Wrong Views of Desire• Hedonism says: abandon yourself to

desire—whatever you want—go for it.


Wrong Views of Desire• Hedonism says: abandon yourself to

desire—whatever you want—go for it.

• Buddhism says: all desire is evil—so you must learn to squelch all desire in your life.


David & Bathsheba• Commands Broken

#8—when he stole another man’s wife#9—when he lied about the affair#3—when he took the Lord’s name in vain#6—when he arranged for a murder#1—when God was not at the center of his heart

What Are You Not

to Covet?Don’t covet anything that belongs to

others—not their house, their spouse, their servants, their animals, or any of

their property.


Coveting• Your Neighbor’s Things– May lead to breaking #8 (stealing)

• Your Neighbor’s Wife– May lead to breaking #7 (adultery)

• Robbery & Adultery– Have both led to breaking #9 (lying) & #6

(murder)


James 4:1-3“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covetand cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (ESV)


Coveting• Your Neighbor’s House– May lead to breaking #4 (not taking a day off)

• Coveting turns goods into gods– Violates #2 (no idols) & #3 (God’s name in

vain)


Ephesians 5:5“For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” (ESV)


Colossians 3:5-6“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.” (ESV)


Coveting• Coveting is worshiping our own desire

rather than worshiping God– This violates #1 (have no God before me)

• A craving for material things can easily lead one to abandon their responsibility to their parents– This violates #5 (honor father and mother)

How to Overcome the Desire to

Covet

The cure for covetousness is contentment.


Contentment vs. Complacency• Complacency is staying where you are.• Contentment is living where you are.


Philippians 4:11-13“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

(ESV)


Attributes of Contented People• They live on purpose.


Attributes of Contented People• They live on purpose.

• They live with gratitude.


Attributes of Contented People• They live on purpose.• They live with gratitude.

• The have learned the difference between wants and needs.


Attributes of Contented People• They live on purpose.• They live with gratitude.• The have learned the difference between

wants and needs.

• They have learned the difference between temporary and eternal.


1 Timothy 6:6-12“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (ESV)


Attributes of Contented People• They live on purpose.• They live with gratitude.• The have learned the difference between

wants and needs.• They have learned the difference between

temporary and eternal.

• They have learned that Jesus is the key to contentment.


Christ is EnoughChrist is my reward and all of my devotion. Now there's nothing in this world—that could ever satisfy. Through every trial my soul will sing, no turning back, I've been set free …

• Christ is enough for me, Christ is enough for me, Everything I need is in You, Everything I need.

Christ my all in all the joy of my salvation. And this hope will never fail, Heaven is our home. Through every storm, my soul will sing, Jesus is here, to God be the glory …

—Hillsong Worship

You Shall Not Covet

“There are two ways to get enough; one is to continue to accumulate

more and more. The other is to desire less and less.” –G.K. Chesterton

you shall not covet - eagle christian...

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