Slide #1
The Tenth Commandment
Slide #2
Ex 20:1-17, “Then God instructed the people as follows: 2 "I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in Egypt. 3 "Do not worship any other gods besides me. 4 "Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish.
Slide #3
7 "Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. 8 "Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 12 "Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God will give you.
Slide #4
13 "Do not murder.
14 "Do not commit adultery.
15 "Do not steal.
16 "Do not testify falsely against your neighbor.
Slide #5
We have come to the last of the 10 commandments -17 "Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else your neighbor owns."
Eight of the commandments deal with behaviors and actions while only two deal with heart attitudes. “Honor your father and mother” and "do not covet” deal with attitudes of the heart.
Slide #6
We are constantly bombarded with commercials that tell us that our present life is not good enough. In fact, if we would only order this product our lives will change and we’ll live happily ever after. Call now, operators are standing by. And if you call within the next 10 minutes you’ll receive extra stuff, all for the low price of $19.95.
Slide #7
Advertisements influence us very much - we are told that our present life is never good enough. We are told that we cannot be happy unless we have what others are have - something that is newer, bigger, better and shinier than what we may already have.
Slide #8
Webster’s Dictionary defines “covet” as “to want ardently something that another person has; to long for with envy.”
This commandment doesn’t mean that we can’t have desires, ambitions and goals...
The 10th commandment isn’t a prohibition against desiring to have stuff. It’s a prohibition against desiring someone else’s stuff, and allowing stuff to control your life.
Slide #9
When you have an excessive craving for something simply because someone else has it; when you begin to drool over it, then you’ve crossed the line from simple desire to greed and envy.
Covetousness drives a wedge between people and destroys relationships.
Slide #10
I was listening to Dr. Laura this week when a caller asked Dr. Laura for help with her relationship with her sister. They were very close growing up but then after they were married their relationship fell apart. The reason it fell apart was because the caller’s husband became wealthy while the sister’s husband earned only a modest income. Covetousness led to envy which led to the destruction of the relationship.
Slide #11
So how do we combat covetousness?
It helps to remind ourselves that this world is not our home, we’re just passing through.
Slide #12
1 John 2:15-17, “Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love the world, you show that you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever. NLT”
So, instead of focusing on things WE WANT, focus on the things we’ve sent instead. The things we’ve already sent ahead of us into eternity.
So it helps to ask ourselves - What have I been sending to my eternal home?
Slide #13
Jesus tells us Matt 6:19-21, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.” NLT
Slide #14
Jesus says "greed" is something we need to guard against, in Luke 12:15 "Beware! Don’t be greedy for what you don’t have. Real life is not measured by how much we own." NLT
Slide #15
Jesus goes on to tell the parable of a man who spent all his time and energy storing up his grain and goods. He built bigger and bigger barns, all so that he could retire and truly enjoy life. But before he was able to retire to the good life, God said, “You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get it all?”
Jesus concludes the parable by saying: "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God." NLT
We need to learn to be content and enjoy the rich life that God has already blessed us with.
Slide #16
There is story about a rich businessman who finds a fisherman laying in a hammock on the beach.
"Why aren’t you out there fishing?" he asked.
"Because I’ve caught enough fish for today." He replied.
"Why don’t you catch more fish than you need?" the rich man asked.
"What would I do with them?" said the fisherman.
"You could sell them for more money" came the impatient reply. "You could buy a bigger and better boat, go into deeper water, catch even more fish and make lots of money. Soon you could have a fleet of fishing boats and be rich like me."
The fisherman thought for a moment then asked, "Then what would I do?"
"You could sit down and enjoy life," said the businessman.
The fisherman looked at him and said, "What do you think I’m doing right now?"
God wants us to enjoy the life He has already given us... and not only that, but we are to introduce others to this rich new life we have in Christ.
Slide #17
The opposite of covetousness is contentment.
People covet because they measure their success and worth by the things they possess.
This attitued comes from a spirit of:
· Competition - I want to better than the Jones’
It also comes from a spirit of:
· Comparison - often children say, "All my friends have this, how come I can’t have it too?
Covetousness leads to class warfare.
People get angry when others are better off than they are. If everyone has a car, they want to have a car, whether or not they need it or can afford it.
The spirit of covetousness leads to a welfare mentality that expects the government to provide the same quality of life for all people.
People begin to expect to have all the luxuries of life without having to work for them.
The Word of God helps us to put things into perspective:
Slide #18
1 Tim 6:6-8, “Yet true religion with contentment is great wealth. 7 After all, we didn’t bring anything with us when we came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.” NLT
Slide #19
Paul says "... I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." Phil 4:11
"... give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thess 5:18
God wants us to learn to be content with what we have. This will bring us lasting joy and peace.
Slide #20
Getting what you want may bring you temporary happiness, but it will soon evaporate because stuff will never bring you satisfaction.
If you measure your worth by material possessions you’ll feel resentful towards those who have more and frustrated with God because you’ve got less.
Slide #21
Don’t believe the lie the media preaches that "Someone else is having a better life than you." It’s a myth, because nothing the world has to offer can bring true satisfaction. Not education, not prestige, not power, not fame, not even wealth can satisfy. The only thing that can better your life and bring true satisfaction is life with Jesus.
You see, there is only one person who can really quench your thirst in life - Jesus Christ.
How do I know? He said so. He said to a woman who was drawing water from a well:
Slide #22
John 4:13-14, “Jesus replied, "People soon become thirsty again after drinking this water. 14 But the water I give them takes away thirst altogether. It becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life." NLT
Jesus isn’t talking about natural water. He isn’t talking about satisfying our desires with material possessions. Jesus didn’t come to give us a new Mercedes Benz, No, He came to do something far better. He’ll give you the gift of His Holy Spirit. And God’s Spirit in you will satisfy you and help you be content with life and all that God has given you.
Here is some timely advice:
Slide #23
Hebrews 13:5, “Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never forsake you." NLT
Apparently that is enough. Jesus alone can satisfy you fully. Contentment is realizing what has true value in your life.
Slide #24
It’s OK to have stuff.
We need a certain amount of stuff to get along in life. We all need essential stuff like food, clothing and shelter.
It’s even OK to have extra stuff as long as it doesn’t run your life.
Slide #25
If you think about it, most of us have too much stuff anyway. And the more stuff you have, the more cluttered and complicated your life becomes.
My good friend Lucius Toney used to say, “It’s all gonna burn anyway.”
Slide #26
Remember you are pilgrims here. This earth is not your home, you’re just camping here temporarily.
You’re just passing through.
So, let’s learn to set our hearts on heaven.
Let’s not take ourselves or our stuff to seriously.
Our clothes will wear out, our cars and trucks will eventually wind up in the junk yard, our stuff will eventually become trash and you know what? You can’t take any of it with you.
All our stuff will pass away, probably sooner than you thought, so learn to handle everything God gives you with open hands.
Learn to be more concerned with laying up treasures in heaven than about where you will eat out this week.
Instead of spending the resources God has given you on yourself, why not put them towards eternal goals like missions.
Instead of spending your time in front of the television why not spend it preparing for and teaching a Royal Rangers or Missionnettes class or driving one of the Sunday School vans, or helping with some other aspect of ministry.
Instead of wasting your time away, how about investing it in God’s Kingdom?
Instead of wasting your time working a second job so you can buy a bigger barn to store more stuff, why not give your time to God.
Instead of striving to get more stuff, how about learning to be content with what God has already given you?
God put the 10th Commandment there for a reason. So, when you find yourself drooling over a new car or a different house, or whatever new gadget you think you just have to have, stop and ask yourself these simple questions, being careful to answer them honestly – because we are very good at justifying unnessary things in our lives.
Slide #27
Do I really need this?
Has God provided the resources to buy it?
Will my having this new thing bring glory to God?
If you honestly get three “yes” answers then you have the green light. If you don’t get three “yes” answers then you know what to do.
