Exodus 20:17 (KJV)
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.”
Thou Shalt Not Covet
What It Is
An unlawful desire for that which is not rightfully yours.
What It Isn’t
A command against lawful desire.
“But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.”
— Deuteronomy 8:18
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
— James 1:17
1. A Perplexing Problem
It’s a Deceitful Thing
“For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:”
— 1 Thessalonians 2:5
“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”
— Romans 7:7
It’s a Debasing Thing
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
— Mark 7:21–23
Additional References: Isaiah 14:13–14; Genesis 3:5
It’s a Destructive Thing
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
— 1 Timothy 6:6–10
“No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
— Luke 16:13
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
— Matthew 6:33
“For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”
— Ephesians 5:5
2. A Proper Perspective
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
— Hebrews 13:5
What Do You Have?
You Have God
“Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: But God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”
— Psalm 73:25–26
You Have Your Family
“Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: And the fruit of the womb is his reward.”
— Psalm 127:3
“Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favour of the Lord.”
— Proverbs 18:22
You Have Friends
“A friend loveth at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.”
— Proverbs 17:17
You Have God’s Wisdom
“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding. For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, And the gain thereof than fine gold.”
— Proverbs 3:13–14
You Can Have Satisfaction
“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.”
— Philippians 4:11–12
3. The Practice of Satisfaction
Give Your Heart to Christ
“That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:”
— Acts 17:27
Cultivate Gratitude
Learn to Love
Know Who You Are
Learn to Give
Turning Commandments Into Commitments
0–6 Years
- Encourage your children to thank Jesus when a sibling or a friend gets something new or something good happens to someone else.
- Avoid complaining about your possessions.
- If contentment is a problem for you, begin asking God to do a new work in your heart.
7–12 Years
- Teach gratitude by insisting that your children write thank-you notes.
- Require your children to give to God and to others from whatever money they receive.
- Teach your kids about missions.
13+ Years
- Explain your giving plan to your children.
- Gradually turn responsibility for your kids’ giving over to them; become their encourager rather than their financial manager.
- Help your teens make good choices about possessions; show them that they can’t have everything they want.
