YOU SHALL NOT COVET

MESSAGENOTES

YOU SHALL NOT COVET

OCTOBER 24/25, 2020

Exodus 20:17 (NIV)

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Now what exactly is coveting?

“to wish for earnestly”

“to desire (what belongs to another) inordinately or culpably”

“to feel inordinate desire for what belongs to another”

“an uncontrollable desire to acquire”

Here’s the deal…

There are some things that God says are off limits to you. They’re not yours to want! They’re not yours to acquire! There’re not yours to desire!

1. When you covet it wears you out! 

Proverbs 23:4 (NLT)

Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit.

2. When you covet it causes you to go into debt!

3. When you covet it causes conflict in your relationships!

James 4:1-2a (NLT)

What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? 2You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them.

4. When you covet it causes dissatisfaction in your life!

Ecclesiastes 5:10 (GN)

If you love money, you will never be satisfied; if you long to be rich, you will never get all you want. It is useless. 

What’s the antidote to coveting?

The antidote to coveting is contentment.

1. True and lasting contentment starts when you and God become friends!

Isaiah 59:2 (NIV)

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

2. True and lasting contentment comes from a deep understanding that God is in control of your life!

Philippians 4:12-13 (NLT)

I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.  13For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.

3. True and lasting contentment comes when you stop comparing yourself to others!

4. True and lasting contentment comes when you share what you have to help others!

1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NLT)

Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. 19By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.