Content not Covetous

Notes
Transcript
Handout
Exodus 20:1-17
Hebrews 13:5
We are finishing up our series with the last of the Ten Commandments today.
As we read through all of the ten commandments just earlier, we can see how this may be the perfect cap to the commandments.
If we will obey this one commandment, we may be able to keep all the rest of the commandments.
I think it is important, first of all, to understand what exactly coveting is.
The word covet is translated from the Hebrew word Hamad, it means to take pleasure in, to desire, to lust, to desire passionately.
The verb in summary means to desire intensely.
So to covet something we do not have is to desire for it so intensely that we would be willing to do anything to get it.
Perhaps someone might be tempted to worship another god thinking maybe they would provide it.
I remember when I was in high school there was a young man who was wrapped up into the occult.
He was earnestly studying Wicca and any thing about the occult he could get his hands on.
He openly and purposefully tried to get demons to do his bidding.
He actually said, maybe if I make them happy they will give me what I want.
You may not be that openly blasphemous, but perhaps covetous desires may cause you to break the sabbath rest, If I just work more, I can earn more money.
Or perhaps you may dishonor your father and mother in breaking away from their desires for you to get what you want.
Many have killed to get what they want.
When I was in college I remember hearing about a young man who killed another teenager so he could have his shoes.
Perhaps you would be willing to lie to get what you want, or steal to get what you want.
If we could keep a handle on our intense desires, we could probably live right more easily.
About seven in ten respondents in a survey said they strongly or somewhat agreed with the statement: “Having more money would solve most of my problems.” Similar proportions of people in each income bracket felt that way, including those with salaries of $200,000 or more.
Exactly how much more money do we think we need to be happy? A survey from the financial-services company Empower put the question to about 2,000 people.
In the survey, most people said it would take a pretty significant pay bump to deliver contentment. The respondents, who had a median salary of $65,000 a year, said a median of $95,000 would make them happy and less stressed. The highest earners, with a median income of $250,000, gave a median response of $350,000.
Even very wealthy people think like this. A 2018 study asked millionaires to rate their happiness on a scale from one to ten and, if they didn’t say ten, predict how much money they would need to move one point higher. Slightly over half of those with a net worth of $10 million or more said their wealth would need to increase by at least 50%.
Man is never naturally never satisfied, he always wants just a little bit more.
In the Bible we hear of a man named Achan.
The children of Israel had entered the promised land and had taken cities and had seen great victories.
They had just seen the walls of Jericho fall down.
God told them to not take anything from the city because it was accursed.
If anyone should take anything from the city, they would be cursed.
Joshua 7:1 KJV
1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.
Achan when he was called out said, “I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel.”
Joshua 7:21 KJV
21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
Notice what the progression…Achan saw the spoils, the silver and gold....then I coveted them....and took them....and hid them.
Because of Achan’s sin, 36 Israelite men were killed by the enemy of Ai.
In the end Achan was stoned to death.
James 1:15 KJV
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
The Sin of covetousness is deadly.
How do we obey this command then?
In Hebrews 13:5, there is a simple step by step formula, if you will, to obey this command.

I. Be Careful What You Love

5 Let your conversation be without covetousness;
Conversation - mode of thinking, behavior
without covetousness - Literally without the love of money, not avaricious.
The idea is not to be greedy.

A. Reject Worldly Lusts

This world does not understand true love.
There is a huge difference between love and lust.
and lust is not just a sensual thing.
We can lust for more money, we call it greed.
We can lust for more power, we call it megalomania.
We can lust for more food, we call it gluttony.
We can lust for more excitement and thrills, we call it an adrenaline junkie.
1 John 2:16–17 KJV
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
When it comes to money and possessions this world tells us get all you can, and can all you get.
Keep it for yourself.
But God says give to others.
The real issue is what we love.
So then, we need to...

B. Love What God Loves

What does God love?
God loves...

1. People

This is obvious by the sacrifices He made.
John 3:16 KJV
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jesus showed us His love on Calvary.
Romans 5:8 KJV
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
So we are to love others, as He has loved us.
We need to love what God loves.
John 13:34 KJV
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
What else does God love?
He loves...

2. Righteousness

The Bible says that God is not only righteous, but he loves those who are righteous as well...
Psalm 146:8 KJV
8 The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: The Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: The Lord loveth the righteous:
Proverbs 15:9 KJV
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: But he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
So we ought to love what God loves, and pursue righteousness.
Paul tell his young protege, Timothy...
2 Timothy 2:22 KJV
22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Jesus himself when He was on this earth, told us not to seek after the things of this world, what we will eat, what we will drink, what we should wear...
Matthew 6:33 KJV
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Love what God loves....God loves righteousness.
What does God love?
He loves...

3. Giving

God loves to meet other peoples needs through our generosity.
2 Corinthians 9:7 KJV
7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
But too often our love is too focused on keeping what we have.
1 John 3:17 KJV
17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
Be Careful What You Love!
Reject Worldly Lust
Love What God Loves.

II. Be Content With What You Have

5 and be content with such things as ye have:
Contentment is the direct opposite of Covetousness.
These two can not live together.
How can we develop a Contented life?

A. Develop Gratitude

One of the easiest and quickest ways to combat covetousness is to develop gratitude.
Philippians 4:6 KJV
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
If we will just keep our eyes open, and hearts ready to be thankful, we will see all that God has done in our lives…everywhere we look.
Colossians 3:17 KJV
17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Develop a heart of gratitude, all day, every day.
Secondly, we can develop a life of contentment by just simply learning to...

B. Delay Gratification

You do not need that item, even if it’s on sale.
You do not need that second slice of cake or pie.
When everything within your body and flesh is desiring something exercise your will…and delay the gratification of that desire.
Far too many people are swimming in debt, just simply because they can’t say no to their desires.
The world tells you, if you want get it!
I saw the lyrics form a recent worldly song from 2019 that says, “ see it, I like it, I want it, I got it.”
This sums up the world’s thoughts on this here.
But it’s nothing new, this is exactly what Achan did.
He saw it - He coveted it (wanted) - He took it.
It is not the path to happiness, it is the path to death.
If you want something that will make your life easier, then wait…save…buy it when you can afford it.
Ecclesiastes 8:6 KJV
6 Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him.
If it’s something you feel you really need to have…Pray for it.
God answers prayers everyday!
James 4:2–3 KJV
2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Make sure your desires are righteous when you ask…do you really need it?
God knows whether we do or not!
But develop gratitude for what you already have...
Delay gratification by not just seeing and taking it.
Thirdly, to develop contentedness...

C. Don’t Grudge

A grudge is a result of a desire to compare ourselves to another.
Covetousness, and unrighteous desires take hold of our hearts.
We begin to see people as the enemy, just because they have something that we want.
God told us, don’t covet your neighbors house
Don’t covet your neighbors wife
Don’t covet his manservant
Don’t covet his maidservant (it would be nice to have a maid from time to time.)
Don’t covet his ox (maybe we should say his tractor)
Don’t covet his donkeys
Don’t covet any thing that is thy neighbours.
It all starts when we look over at our neighbor, or to any other person, and we see something we wish we had.
We compare what they have with what we have.
The Bible says...
2 Corinthians 10:12 KJV
12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
You are not wise if you compare yourselves with another.
It just creates a grudge between you.
The fourth thing we can do to help us live a life of contentedness is to...

D. Desire God

When we realize all that we are and have in God we will be content.
Psalm 37:4 KJV
4 Delight thyself also in the Lord; And he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
If what your heart delights in the Lord, God will give you what you desire…because what you desire…is what He desires.
You love what He loves.
This leads us to the last point...

III. Realize You Have All You Need

5 for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
If we will just realize we have Jesus, he is never going to leave us…he is never going to forsake us that is enough!
This world’s money fly’s away!
We can lose it all.
Houses deteriorate.
Cars break down
Our neighbor’s wife get’s older
The landfill is full of the millions of toys that people were coveting over just a few years before.
What you need is not more money…you need more Jesus.
What you need is not a fancier house…what you need is a home in heaven with Jesus.
What you need is not a slicker car…what you need is to walk with Jesus.
What you need is not a different spouse…what you need is to be a better spouse for Jesus.
What you need is not a better job…what you need is to do a better job for Jesus.
What you need is not better children…what you need is to raise better children for Jesus.
You have all that you need already!
You have a home in heaven and a Savior who loves you!
If we would just take a look at who we are in Christ, we would live a much more contented life.
I have a handout of a list on the back table, if you would like a copy of it.
The handout is called “Who I Am To Christ” and it lists 120 Bible references, and what each of them say about Who I Am to Christ.
It may do some good to memorize some of these verses.
Remind ourselves who we are in Christ, and allow that realization affect our choices.
That it might stir us unto good works.

Conclusion

Dr. Russel Cornwell, a Baptist Pastor, was on a trip to Baghdad, to travel along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. On the journey, his Arab guide told him a fascinating story, one he would never forget. After he returned to America he retold the story over 6000 times in meetings all across the land. He then wrote a book about it and called it, ‘Acres of Diamonds’.
Here is the story: Ali Hafed was a very wealthy Persian farmer. He had much land, many sheep and camels, and a wonderful wife and children. Ali Hafed was a happy man. That is, until an old priest travelling through his land told him about diamonds. The old priest said they were the most precious things on earth. They sparkle like a million suns. If he were to find these diamonds he would be fabulously wealthy beyond measure. His children would sit on thrones. One diamond the size of your thumb could buy a whole country. That night Ali Hafed was an unhappy man. He was captivated with the thought of finding such diamonds. He asked the old priest where could he find these them. He was told, ‘look for a tall mountain where flows white streams, and there you will find diamonds.’ Ali Hafed sold his farm, left his wife and children and went off to find these elusive diamonds. He travelled throughout Palestine but could find no diamonds. He ended up a destitute and broken man at the Gates of Hercules in Spain, where he drowned himself in the sea.
Meanwhile, the man who bought his farm was watering his camel down at the stream on his newly purchased farm. It was there he noticed a black rock that seemed to shimmer in the water. He brought it home and set it on his mantelpiece and thought no more about it. That is, until the old priest, travelling through his land, paid him a visit. The old priest noticed the black rock was glinting in the morning sunlight.  He immediately recognised it was a diamond. “Where did you find this rock?” He asked Ali Hafed. He replied, ‘Down at the white stream at the foot of the tall mountain on my land.’
What the farmer discovered on Ali Hafed’s farm became known as, The Golconda Diamond Mine, the greatest diamond mine of that era. The Kohinor and the Orloof, of the crown jewels of England and Russia, which are the largest diamonds on earth, came from Ali Hafed’s mine. There had literally been acres of diamonds under Ali Hafed’s feet all along, and he didn’t know it. Had he stayed, he might have found what he’d been looking for all that time.
Often what we are searching for is right under our feet. It’s just we are too blinded by the lure of something else that we completely miss it. The Prodigal son went on a search to find his fame and fortune. Like Ali Hafed, he lost his contentment in life. Greater riches and excitement would be his in the far country. But he eventually realized, that acres of diamonds had been under his feet at the father’s house all along. Don’t go searching in all the wrong places, your blessings may be right where you are.
Be careful what you love!
It may draw you to your death.
Reject worldly lust, and love what God loves.
Learn to be Content with what you have.
Develop Gratitude
Delay Gratification
Don’t Grudge
Desire God
Realize the true treasure that you have already right where you stand!
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