December 03, 2017 | Tom Dunham
Passage: Exodus 20:17
Don’t Even THINK About It!
Or: Another Man’s Grass
Or: The LAST Commandment
“You shall not covet …” Exodus 20:17
From the Oxford English Dictionary: Covetousness is the inordinate and culpable desire of possessing that which belongs to another or to which one has no right. See also from the Westminster Short Catechism …
It is a fixation, that supplants God (= idolatry: Col. 3:5) …
Joshua 7 – 1st instance of covetousness: ‘Principle of First Mention’ …
Partial review of covetousness vs. contentment in the Bible & elsewhere:
- Eccl. 5:10 – He who loves silver will not be satisfied w/ silver …
- “Just a little bit more.” John D. Rockefeller in response to the question, “How much money does it take to be happy?”
- I Tim. 6:10 – For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil
- Job 1: 21 – “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there.”
- We will never truly enjoy the things we have coveted because our consciences will convict us of our sin.
- Luke 8:14 – “And the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.”
- All the misery of sin in our world can be traced back to one couple who coveted what God told them they could not have.
- Proverbs 23:4,5 – Do not overwork to be rich …
- I Timothy 6:6 – But godliness with contentment is great gain.
- I Timothy 6:8 – And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
- If we are not content with what we have, we will not be content with what we want.
- Hebrews 13:5 – Let your conduct be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have …
- Pr. 28:16b - … he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.
- Luke 12:15 - … “Take need and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
- Inheritances are the great “MRI’s” of the heart! …
- Victory over covetousness means freedom from materialism – a reliable indicator of which is consistency in giving tithes/offerings
Jesus said, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. …” John 14:21. ‘keep’ = tereo (Gr.) … ‘to keep before one’s eyes’ … Take a copy with you and read and review it regularly!