Full sermon: Mine! based on Exodus 20:1-17

Let us pray: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I. Children and that is mine. For those who have raised children the early years of little boys and little girls can be a time of challenges for parents. Little children often like to say, “That is mine.” Even if the toy is not really theirs, they can take a toy away from a brother or sister and say, “That is mine.” I remember when my sister was little and her cousin was little that if we bought one toy for one of them we usually bought the same toy for the other one. They played together a lot and they would take a toy away from the other one if they did not have the same toy. The easier way to deal with that problem was to get them both the same toys.

II. Adults can say that, too. That is not something that only children do though. Many adults look at the big house or new car or new smartphone and would like to have those things for themselves so that they could say, “That is mine.” Deep inside each of us is the sinful desire to have the nice things others have. That is what advertising is based on. That new car or new smartphone is made to look in advertisements like something everybody has to have.

III. Famous words of 9th and 10th Commandments. Tonight in our journey through the Old Testament Book of Exodus we hear the words that are some of the most famous words in the Bible. We call those words in Exodus 20 – the Ten Commandments. God repeats in both the 9th and 10thCommandments, “You shall not covet.” When words are repeated fairly close together in the Bible, then God wants us to pay special attention to those words. Most of the sins and wrongs of the people of the world begin with coveting.

IV. Desire vs. coveting. Having a desire for something is not wrong. The last two commandments are about coveting or having a sinful desire for what others have. Coveting is wanting what others have so much that a person will do whatever that person can do to get those things others have. Coveting is wanting things to be mine.

V. Coveting as opposite of being content and Philippians 4:11-12. Coveting is something we all struggle with at times, because we are sinners and wrongdoers. Coveting is the opposite of being content in life. Coveting is part of our sinful nature as humans. Being content is something we have to learn. Philippians 4:11-12 tells us, “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.”

VI. First, we realize the sequence and Genesis 3:6 and Joshua 7:21 and see, covet, take. Usually, we make excuses for coveting. We might say to ourselves, “Coveting is no big deal.” That is what Eve was thinking in the Garden of Eden. Genesis 3:6 states, “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” The sequence is See. Covet. Take. In Joshua 7:21 Achan admits, “When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.” (NIV 84) See. Covet. Take.

VII. Excuses for coveting and James 1:15. Sometimes we make excuses for our coveting. We say, “I was only looking.” Looking can lead to coveting and coveting can lead to taking. What might be next? James 1:15 tells us, “Then desire when (desire) has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when (sin) is fully grown brings forth death.” Realize the sequence and do not make excuses. See. Covet. Take. Then death.

When we covet things others have, like their new car or new clothes or huge house, then we are no longer content with what we have. Coveting can lead to the death of our relationship with Jesus.

VIII. Coveting can lead to death. Remember Eve in the Garden of Eden and Achan taking things that they coveted. Being content conquers coveting. The first step is to realize the sequence and to not make excuses. See. Covet. Take. Death.

IX. Next, think of your salvation in a personal way and Exodus 20:2. Sometimes we think of salvation in general. We might think, “Salvation. No big deal?” Instead, think of your salvation in a personal way. In Exodus 20:2 we hear God say, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” Not their God or some God or any God. “I am the Lord yourGod.” The Lord your God will do whatever is needed to save you from sin, wrong, death, and the devil.

X. There was a passover lamb. Christ’s blood wasn’t placed on the wood of a house, but on the wood of a Roman cross, mingled with sweat. This sadly all ended with Christ “crucified, dead and buried.” Joseph of Arimathea took the dead body of Christ to a tomb. Things seemed hopeless.

XI. On the third day Jesus arose. There is nothing dead about our Jesus! Jesus was no longer among the dead and the stone was rolled away. Jesus lives so He can speak these words straight from His heart to yours—“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of sin and death, out of the house of slavery. I, the LORD your God. I will do whatever is necessary to save you!”

XII. Being content conquers coveting.The first step to being content is this. Realize the sequence. Realize where this all leads—death! The second step? Don’t think of your salvation only in a general way. Think of your salvation in a personal way. Jesus is the Passover Lamb who saved me!

XIII. Exodus 19:5 and treasured possession. In Exodus 19:5, God said, “You shall be my treasured possession among all peoples.” God’s desire to acquire us is far greater than ours. God loves us as His treasured possession. God chose you because He loves you. God sent Jesus to save you because He loves you. You are a treasured possession.

XIV. Conclusion. The heart of the Ten Commandments. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.” How does that work? Realize the sequence—see, covet, take, death. Think of your salvation in a personal way. You are God’s treasured possession. Where’s the power to do this? The strength? Jesus says, “I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are now and always lovingly, passionately, eternally mine!” Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.