“Learn To Be Content”
(Exodus 20:17)
I. Introduction.
A. There are some people who have made a distinction
between the Old and New Testaments by saying that
the Old Testament is concerned with the externals of
human behavior, while the New Testament goes further,
and deeper, into attitudes and motivations. This is seen as a
fundamental difference in the two covenants – and what
makes the New Testament truly the superior of the two.
1. But, in fact, there is nothing at all inferior about
the ethical standards and requirements of the Old
Testament. There is one continuous – and fully
compatible – standard set by God and maintained
throughout the time of both the Old and New
Testaments.
2. The unchanging God established both the first and
second covenants. What was good under the first is
good today. What was sin under the first is still sin
today.
3. The moral and ethical standards of the two
covenants are exactly alike. What is different is the
relationship we have with Jesus Christ under the
second – new – covenant. The Old Testament
anticipates and promises redemption, the New
Testament reveals the promise fulfilled in the
person of Jesus Christ – our Redeemer.
B. That the Law of Moses did not just regulate conduct is
evident in the tenth commandment. It makes explicit what
is assumed in the other nine statements about human
conduct; sin really lies in the heart [mind]. What leads
people to sin has its origin on the inside, and shows itself in
some sinful action.
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1. There are a variety of things that motivate peoples’
actions. But, the best, most-genuine, and sincere
motivation to do good is the individual’s desire to
do good.
2. Both covenants recognize that to get at the heart of
the problem of sin you must get to the heart of
people.
3. Violating this tenth commandment, which deals
with motives and motivation, can lead to violations
of all the nine other laws God gave.
C. “Covetousness” is not a common word in contemporary
language, so we’d do well to, first, understand what the
word used here really means.
1. The Hebrew word translated “covet”, in
Exodus 20:17, refers to “enthusiastic desire”.
It has no moral connotation by itself. You could
enthusiastically desire good things as well as bad.
But, the remainder of the commandment clearly
indicates misdirected desires.
2. A statement in Proverbs (21:26) also clarifies the
meaning of “covet”. He [the “lazy man” of verse
25] covets greedily all day long, but the righteous
gives and does not spare.”
a. A person can be covetous without ever
becoming a thief, an adulterer, or a
murderer.
b. This verse points out what may be the
most-common form of covetousness:
greed.
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c. This verse is an example of Hebrew
parallelism or, more precisely, what is called
antithetical parallelism.” The first line
identifies an action, the next describes its
opposite action. A covetous man holds on
to everything; a righteous man is generous
in giving and sharing.
3. “Covetousness”, in general terms, takes in all acts
of greed, irreverence, and selfishness. It is the
misdirected energy of a heart set on wrong goals.
The covetous person lets his or her values get so
warped that they want all the wrong things to the
neglect of good things.
4. Paul helps us put the matter in perspective:
(Colossians 3:1-3; READ). One who follows
Christ has to turn attention to the spiritual side of
life. He has to avoid the temptation to let the desire
for the things of this world distract and consume
him – to the neglect of spiritual matters.
5. Twice, Paul says that covetousness is a form of
idolatry (Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5). It’s the
“worship” of self, and devotes its energy to self-
gratification.
II. What Covetousness Does.
A. Some cases studies might help us grasp more firmly the
nature of the tenth commandment.
1. King Ahab and Naboth (I Kings 21:1-7; READ).
a. Ahab’s desire for Naboth’s land was out of
control. So, he went home depressed, and
he pouted.
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b. Ahab’s queen, Jezebel, had the stubborn
Naboth killed. To what lengths Ahab was
willing to go to (or to allow) to get what he
wanted!
2. Or, David and Bathsheba (II Samuel 11:1-4;
READ). Certainly, David’s desires were not held
in check. Seduction, adultery, even murder,
resulted. So did great tragedy and misery.
B. Covetousness encourages us to turn our back on God.
When we turn away from God, we turn toward whatever
becomes our “idol”, whatever we “covet”.
1. So long as God is in His proper place in a life,
everything else fits together in relation to Him.
Take God out of that central position, and values
become hopelessly fouled-up.
2. When something other than God has priority in a
life, God’s will becomes burdensome. For the sake
of one’s new “idol”, a person will leave God, break
His laws, and forsake His love.
3. A heart filled with covetousness doesn’t consider,
or care about, God. It cares only about self. It
renounces the true God for the sake of self-centered,
self-promoting, arrogance. (“I know what’s right,
but who cares? I want so-and-so, and I’m going to
have it. No one – not even God – can stop me!”).
C. Covetousness also encourages us to judge all things in life
from a single perspective: its worth to me.
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1. Jesus once warned a man: “. . . Take heed and
beware of covetousness for one’s life does not
consist in the abundance of the things he
possesses.” (Luke 12:15).
2. Covetousness has its life in the single desire to get
and never give. Paul admitted the personal
problems cause by covetousness: “. . . I would not
have been know sin except through the law. For I
would not have known covetousness unless the law
had said, ‘You shall not covet.’ But sin, taking
opportunity by the commandment, produced in me
all manner of evil desire. . .” (Romans 7:7-8).
3. Once covetousness is stirred in the heart, nothing is
“off-limits” anymore. The law says, “You shall not
steal,” but, the covetous person says, “Who’s going
to stop me?” The laws says, “You shall not commit
adultery,” but the self-centered person says, “It’s
my life and I’ll do with it what I please.”
D. Third, covetousness encourages people to use position to
exploit others.
1. Peter wrote of greedy people who “. . .will exploit
with deceptive words;. . .” (II Peter 2:3).
2. The covetous person manipulates others to obtain
their own advantage and gain.
3. All forms of exploitation of other people arise from
covetousness and selfishness.
E. And, fourth, covetousness encourages us to live wastefully.
1. Today, the abundance of what we have can
encourage wasteful extravagance – with no real
concern for its effect on us, or for those who have
less of what the world offers materially.
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2. Covetousness is the very opposite of good
stewardship.
III. What Can We Do?
A. How can we curb covetousness? What can we do to obey
the tenth commandment? Let me make some suggestions.
B. First, we should cultivate our own strengths and abilities.
Rather than resent and envy others for what they have, we
need to develop ourselves. We have abilities, and skills,
which are possibly not being fully utilized. Our time
should be devoted to improving ourselves, not wasted on
envying others and what they have.
C. Second, we should, also, learn to rejoice with others over
their good fortune.
1. Romans 12:15: “Rejoice with those who rejoice,
and weep with those who weep.” For the majority
of people, it’s no doubt easier to do the second time
than it is the first. To see someone really
prosperous, or just successful, may stir feelings of
envy: “Why couldn’t that have been me?” No
joy there.
2. We are not to resent what comes to others in the
way of good fortune and happiness. You defeat
covetousness when you honestly share another’s
joy or good fortune.
D. We should, third, trust God.
1. The covetous person lives with insecurity and fear.
2. The covetous person relies upon himself or herself –
there is no room for God in their lives.
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E. And, fourth, we should be content with what we have.
1. I Timothy 6:6-8: “Now godliness with contentment
is great gain. For we brought nothing into this
world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
And having food and clothing, with these we
should be content.”
2. It’s hard to be content when we always want more.
To be satisfied, and successful, we must draw the
line between ambition and discontent. Then we
must stay on the side of ambition.
IV. Conclusion.
A. Contentment is a great quality to cultivate. It comes when
we defeat covetousness by eliminating the longing for
status, wealth, power, and pleasure.
B. Contentment comes when we escape our bondage to things,
and when we find our joy and fulfillment in caring about
others.
C. All of our religious activity involves three relationships –
with God, with other people, with ourselves. God’s
commandments address all these.