Intro: If you listen to the radio maybe you have heard SheDaisy a country group made up of sisters advertise the sleep number bed. They talk about their long days on tour and how much they love arriving home and sleeping on this bed that can be adjusted to the firmness you like in a mattress. How do they sell this mattress? They aim right at the heart of Americans. You deserve this bed. This goes right to the heart of man. What begins with deserving often turns into desire.
Why does this type of advertising work? We live today in a culture of consumerism. What does that mean? It means that many in America are driven by their appetites rather than by their will. Jesus warned us about his in Luke 12.15 “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed (covetousness in KJV) ; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” Why does advertising work in the US that would not work in third world countries?
Listen to the wisdom of Will Rogers. “We spend money we don’t have, to buy things we don’t need, to impress people we don’t even like.”
Marketing departments are designed to make us want more. They direct their advertisements to the heart. This is the very thing that this commandment does it strikes directly at the heart. The first nine strike first at actions. This commandment strikes at our attitudes. The first nine speak to our deeds the tenth directly to our desires. Dr Jerry Vines said that this is the mother of all sins. For it is from the desires of our heart that the deeds of our hands spring fourth. If the desire of our heart is to please and glorify God then from our hands, mouth, feet will spring; love, joy, peace, kindness, goodness, patience, faithfulness, and self-control. If the desires of our heart are selfish and sinful envying, immorality, impurity, sensuality, anger, dispute, etc. etc. . .
There is often an idea that as Christians we should have no desires. We should be plain ordinary and boring. There is nothing wrong with desire. There is something terribly wrong with desiring what someone else has. To desire what does not belong to you is coveting. God’s Word clearly says don’t covet.
I. The definition of coveting
What does it mean to Covet? It means to crave, to yearn, to hanker after something that does not belong to us. When we set our hearts on what does not rightfully belong to us we are coveting. It is desire. But it is misdirected desire. It is not wrong to desire to provide for your family, it is not wrong to desire to be the best you can be at work, it is not wrong for me to bring messages that challenge and grow you through God’s spirit, it is not wrong to desire the best education, etc for your children.
It is when we see others and what they have and begin to desire what they have as ours.
Our desire for food drives us to eat. Our desire for intimacy should drive us to marriage.
What others are and have should not be our yardstick of desire. When we compare ourselves to other and desire what they have listen to what James says this causes.
James 4.1,2 “What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?
2You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel.
What do we covet today? A larger TV, designer clothes, bigger houses, things from shopping networks, new this bigger that.
We are consumers, coveters at heart. Advertising works so well because we cannot keep the tenth commandment.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said it well, “Things are in the saddle and ride mankind.”
Look closely at Exodus 20.17 “or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
We are called to covet nothing, not some ones reputation, possessions, relationships, nothing.
II. The danger of coveting
Have you ever heard someone confess that they were a coveter? That is because many if not all don’t think it’s a big deal. What’s the big deal I’m just looking? It’s not as if I’m murdering, stealing, or lying. It is a mistake to minimize the evil of coveting. Mark 7.21,22 Jesus listed it right up there with theft, murder, and adultery.
Why is coveting so dangerous, when that desire drives you to sin. Genesis 3.6 the forbidden fruit was desirable for food to Eve. Joshua 7.21 Achan saw the cloak, silver and gold and coveted or desired it. All the things that were in AI were to be devoted to God!
Desire for things that do not belong to us is dangerous!! Sinful deeds are drawn out of the well of sinful desire. Sinful desire becomes sinful obsession until finally sinful compulsion and sinful action.
James 1.14, 15 “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”
Coveting can be just as fatal as any other sin. What should we ask ourselves when it comes to our desires?
Where will this desire lead me ultimately?
III. The doorway of coveting
The highway of coveting leads to the house of discontent. But what is the doorway to discontent? It is the heart! Why is this the least thought about commandment? You can’t see someone covet only the results of the coveting. This commandment makes clear what the others only imply. God calls for inward obedience not just outward. In this commandment we see that the Ten Commandments are not old and archaic, outdated and of little use. We see clearly that God intended these to be spiritual. Man looks at the outward but even in the Ten Commandments God looks on the heart!!
Michael Horton a professor of theology at Westminster Seminary tells of a rabbi who said,
“You know, one of the greatest differences between our two religions is this idea that you;ve committed a sin just by desiring or thinking it. We believe you have to actually commit the physical act before it’s really sin. Otherwise we’d be sinning all the time!”
Guess what. The rabbi was right, If God judges us from what is inside as well as outside, then we are sinning all the time. Martin Luther said that this commandment more than any others convinces us that we are sinners!!
Paul even thought He was good to go until he came to the Tenth commandment. Romans 7.7 Paul said sin seized its opportunity in him causing every kind of covetous desire.
How do we guard the doorway to coveting? With contentment that can be found only in Jesus Christ!!
IV. The divine plan contentment
The divine design to defeat coveting is contentment! If we really needed more God would provide it. Philippians 4.19 “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
1 Timothy 6.6 “Godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Hebrews 13.5a “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have.”
Remember that the Ten Commandments are God’s words on how we can have a right relationship with God and man. They teach us how to be holy, happy and healthy. If there is desire in your heart for things that do not rightfully belong to you there is something wrong with your relationship with God.
The way to be free of coveting is to be completely satisfied with God and with what He has provided for you.
Psalm 73.25 “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.”
Paul clearly said in Philippians 411b, 12
“I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both having abundance and suffering need.”
Contentment is not based on situation or circumstance. 4.13 I can do all things through Him (Christ) who strengthens me. The secret to contentment is God is all we need. If He is all we desire then contentment will flow freely from the fountain of God!
When we come to God by way of faith in Jesus Christ our sins are forgiven, we are redeemed, sealed with the Holy spirit of God and give eternal life! God also gives us the promise to never leave us (eternal security).
Conclusion: Contentment, what so many search for today but so few find. True satisfaction is found in the gracious arms of God. Following Jesus in faith content with what He provides is the greatest guard against Coveting. The tenth commandment shoots at the heart. Is your heart filled with contentment or covetousness?
