7 Deadly Sins - Coveting

7 Deadly Sins - Coveting (Rough Draft)

Introduction-

Joshua 7

I. Start Right out with Achan

Research Quote - John D Rockefeller (one of the wealthiest men of his time - owned most of the oil business in America) was asked, How much money is enough money? “Just a little more.”

And so it is with our nature to think that more will be enough. Our souls are not like our stomachs.

Our soul is like the stomach of an 18 year old guy.

When fed from this world our soul can never be full.

Commentary - today as we look at our 2nd of 7 deadly sins we look at coveting.

Commentary - today as we look at our 2nd of 7 deadly sins - coveting.

Coveting is desiring something more than you desire God.

Today we will look at how God desires to free us from this.

Lets pray.

In we are given an important Old Testament teaching on coveting.

Coveting will leave me with consequences I never thought would happen.

... take you further than you thought you would go

… effect those around you in ways that are unpredectble

In Joshua chapter 7 we are introduced to a man named Achan.

A man who struggled with coveting.

sets up our story.

The people of Israel went in to conquer the Promised Land.

The first city was Jericho. The Israelites were told to destroy everything in the city and take no plunder for themselves, but all silver and gold were to go into God’s treasury.

God worked a miracle. He caused the impenetrable city walls of Jericho (6 feet thick) to fall outward and gave a victory to the Israelites over this well fortified city.

This battle the was won against this city was totally the Lord’s doing.

BUT - Every story has a big butt in it. - A man named Achan coveted silver, gold and a robe and secretly took what God said not to take. This man Achan robed God.

God said to give the gold and silver to his treasury.

Achan took it for himself.

But this was a secret. Only the man Achan and God knew what happened.

The Israelites after having this great battle at Jericho, and feeling really good about God’s help, go on their campaign to a small weak city of Ai.

They only sent 3,000 troops to handle this small city. This is an easy battle. It’s a 3 inch put - just a tap in.

Even by mans standards 3,000 troop would overwhelm such a small city. The Lord’s hand was against them. They lost the battle and 36 people died.

The Lord’s hand was against them because Achan had robbed God, coveted and stole the Gold, silver and robe.

In front of probably over a million Israelites - God calls out Achan the coveting thief and his family.

Achan has to stand in front of all these people and give an account.

Achan says this when he is confronted about his coveting and stealing.

Joshua 7:20–21 ESV

20 And Achan answered Joshua, “Truly I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I did: 21 when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”

Joshua 7:25–26 ESV

25 And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The Lord brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. 26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor.

Josh 7:25-26

Achan never thought that coveting would take him to the place where 36 soldiers died because of his sin.

Achan never expected that taking the robe, gold and silver would cause the death of himself and his family.

And when you covet, you never think that there will be severe consequences.

We think that coveting is something hidden on the inside that no one sees and that it stays hidden.

Coveting - exacts from us a high price. A price higher than we ever imagine.

Achan and his family are stoned to death and burned.

When we covet:

Coveting defined briefly -

-our mind esteems something or someone as greater in value than God.

-our heart desires a thing or a person above it’s desire for God.

-our hands reach out to something or someone more than they reach out to God.

Story of coveting -

-our soul worships something above God.

The heart of a worshiper of God says, “Jesus is better”

The heart of coveter says, “my want is better”.

We live in a culture that approves of coveting.

Our culture approves of us gaining “happiness” using the next thing, the next relationship, the next experience - as our temporary happy fix.

Coveting will leave you with consequences you never thought would happen.

The person who coveted wealth never thought they would find themselves wasting the money they needed to feed their family on scratch off tickets.

The man or woman who covets shiny vehicles or new clothes never thought they would find themselves in unmanageable debt.

The person who covets the warm full feeling of when they overeating never thought second helpings would eventually land them with serious medical problems.

The New Testament word for coveting is Lust.

The woman who hides her lust for a man who will tell her she is beautiful or a man who hides his lust for the shape of a woman … Never thought there lust, there coveting, would leave them so deeply dissatisfied in their marriage.

Achan in our O.T. story never thought his coveting would cause 36 people to lose their life.

Achan in our O.T. story never thought his coveting would cause 36 people to lose their life.

Coveting will leave you with consequences you never thought would happen.

As Christ followers are called to live a life that finds it’s deep satisfaction in God.

The beauty of God is that He desires to save us from the sin that draws us away from Him, and also the consequences that this sin would bring on our lives.

Isn’t God good? Isn’t He a God that loves that warns us of what can wreck us?

Would you in your heart right now worship God and tell Him,

“God you are good for pulling me away from coveting.”

God and His Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.

As Christ followers are called to live a life that finds its deep satisfaction in God. Not in Stuff.

Transition - So if coveting is so poisonous to us, how do I avoid it?

So we find the fight against coveting is not just against our flesh, but against our culture.

-It is something that other people do not understand.

In the 10 commandments - the last commandment is against coveting - the beauty of the command against coveting is that God is trying to save us from the addiction to trying to find satisfaction in more.

-When you try to be satisfied is something more than God you waste you life by chasing your tail. You waste years of your life, years of your passion, lots of money.

Of all the 10 commandments does God warn about the addiction to alcohol? Or … No, but He tries to stop us from an addiction to living for more.

2. How do I do war against Coveting?

In the fight against terror the U.S. developed bomb that would destroy bunkers and tunnels in Afganistan. It is the largest non nuclear bomb the U.S. has ever produced.

It is 22,000-pound and called "MOAB" — stands for “Massive Ordnance Air Blast”, or as it's also known, the "Mother of All Bombs". Every war calls for specialized weaponry that will help fight against the enemy.

We are going to look at 4 verses. I want you to observe similarity in these New Testament texts that talk about coveting.

In our fight against Coveting I was to you to observe 3 steps that we see in several New Testament verses about coveting.

This is our special warhead against coveting.

The focus is on Contentment.

We do war against coveting by embracing contentment.

We are going to look at 4 verses. I want you to observe similarity in these New Testament texts that talk about coveting.

You will see 3 things take place in todays verses

A. Active pushing back against Coveting

B. A decision to be content with what God has provided.

C. An embracing of Christ as enough.

, , , Phil 4:10-13

Keep your life free from love of money, [push against coveting}

and be content with what you have, [decision for contentment]

for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” [embracing Christ is enough]

[Decision to be content] 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

[Push against Coveting] 9 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. 10 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.

[Embracing of Christ as Enough] 11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

This is the special warhead in the fight against Coveting.

Hebrews 13:5 ESV

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

1st Active Command - “Keep your life free from love of money” God commands your emotions.

2nd Active Command - “Be content with what you have.”

How do I do this - Embrace that you have Christ. That Jesus is better

When you desire something

-Ask yourself, Can I do without this? If the honest answer is “Yes” ask yourself why do I want it?

-Will my heart be tempted to be attached to it?

-....

This applies to material things: Wanting a car, hunting gear, new clothes, home decorations.

This also applies to food - gluttony is a form of coveting.

Do I want that second or third helping? Can I do without it? Why do I want it?

This evaluation helps us keep our hearts separeted from coveting

This is the specialized weapon, that God has given us.

It centers around choosing contentment over Coveting.

3. There is freedom from Coveting

What happens to my life when I don’t care about more, but I choose Contentment.

ResearchQuote - John D Rockefeller (one of the wealthiest men of his time - owned most of the oil business in America) was asked, How much money is enough money? Just a little more.

Coveting is to ad

Transition - The O.T. speaks specifically to coveting

The people of Israel went in to conquer the Promised Land.

The first city was Jericho. The Israelites were told to destroy everything in the city and take no plunder for themselves, but all silver and gold were to go into God’s treasury.

God worked a miracle, caused the city walls to fall outward and gave the Israelites this well fortified city. This battle the was one against this city was totally the Lord’s doing.

BUT - Every story has a big butt in it. - A man named Achan coveted silver, gold and a robe and secretly took what God said to give to Him. This man Achan robed God. God said to give - Achan took for himself.

The Israelites after having this great battle at Jericho go on their campaign to a small weak city of Ai.

They only sent 3,000 troops to handle this small city. Even by mans standards 3,000 troop would overwhelm such a small city. The Lord’s hand was against them. They lost the battle and 36 people died.

God calls out Achan the thief and his family.

He admitted that when he saw the gold and silver he coveted and took what was not his.

Achan and his family are stoned to death and burned.

Transition - the Antithesis of Coveting is Contentment.

-If Coveting is Darth Vadar, Contentment is Luke Skywalker

-To do war

The Beauty of Contentment.

Godliness plus contentment is great gain

I can do all things though Christ.

Hebrews 13:5 ESV

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

1 Timothy 6:6–11 ESV

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 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. 10 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. 11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

Philippians 4:10–13 ESV

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 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. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 3:8 ESV

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Philippians 4:19 ESV

19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:5 ESV

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

When you desire a thing, a person or an experience that you do not have.

-Ask yourself, Can I do without this? If the answer is “no” and it is a real need like toilet paper or bread then get it.

If the honest answer is “Yes, I can do without this.”

then ask yourself, “Why do I want it?”

-Will my heart be tempted to be attached to it?

-Will I be frustrated if I don’t get it or can I be content without it?

-If the answer is “yes” you have something, or someone that your heart lifts up.

-You might have an issue of coveting.

This applies to material things: Wanting a car, hunting gear, new clothes, home decorations.

This also applies to food - gluttony.

This applies to using people or relationships to make us feel good.

We are gong to practice this right now.

Pick something that you want. You have it in your mind?

-Ask yourself, Can I do without this? If the answer is “no” and it is a real need like milk or job to provide - then get it.

If the honest answer is “Yes, I can do without this.”

then ask yourself, “Why do I want it?”

-Will my heart be tempted to be attached to it?

-Will I be frustrated if I don’t get it or can I be content without it?

This evaluation helps us keep our hearts separeted from coveting

-If the answer is “yes” you have something, or someone that your heart lifts up.

-You might have an issue of coveting.

How does the Gospel speak to coveting?

A. What is eternal is what is most important.

Christ died for you and ultimately your soul.

Jesus did not die for a new car or clothes that would rust and grow out of style.

How does the Gospel speak to coveting?

Jesus died for what is eternal.

Your soul is forever - your soul will last for eternity.

There is not one thing that you can sinfully covet that will last forever?

What is eternal must be of prime importance in our life.

I live in a physical world and have to regularly remind myself that the eternal is what is actually real.

What we covet is temporary, our soul is eternal

What we covet is temporary, our soul is eternal

Coveting says, this person, experience or thing is of high importance.

The Gospel says eternal souls are of prime importance.

B. The greatest sacrifice - that of Jesus Christ - wasn’t so I could get more stuff.

The greatest sacrifice of Jesus Christ was made so your soul would find Jesus as your living water.

So that your soul would be saved from the emptiness of trinkets and find Christ as your satisfaction.

Closing Illustration - Kids swimming with leaches after the rain when the ocean is a few blocks away.

There is nothing more important to gain than the salvation of your soul.

There is nothing more important than to find Christ as the satisfaction of your soul.

__________________________

As Americans we are called by culture to find our satisfaction met in the next best thing.

So we find the fight against coveting is not just against our flesh, but against our culture.

-It is something that other people do not understand.

In the 10 commandments - the last commandment is against coveting - the beauty of the command against coveting is that God is trying to save us from the addiction to trying to find satisfaction in more.

-When you try to be satisfied is something more than God you waste you life by chasing your tail. You waste years of your life, years of your passion, lots of money.

Of all the 10 commandments does God warn about the addiction to alcohol? Or … No, but He tries to stop us from an addiction to living for more.