THOU SHALT NOT COVET

We are going to look at the last of the ten commandments. The Word says it is wrong to covet. There are some places where we are told to covet. Sometimes it is good to covet but most of the time it is bad. Lets look at the definition of covet and then we will look at some good examples and some bad. Covet kuv´et (אוה, 'āwāh; ζηλόω, zēlóō, “to desire earnestly,” “to set the heart and mind upon anything”): Used in two senses: good, simply to desire earnestly but legitimately. bad, to desire unlawfully, or to secure illegitimately; hence, called “lust” GOOD 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. 1 Cor 12:30-31 (KJV) 39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 1 Cor 14:39 (KJV) Paul tells us to covet the best gifts and to covet to prophesy. This means to desire these things earnestly. BAD 7 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 (KJV) This could be said that to covet is the beginning of lust. 21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: Ex 18:21 (KJV) Look at the requirements for these men. To fear God, be truthful, and hating covetousness. This must mean that coveting is not a good thing for a good man. 17 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. Ex 20:17 (KJV) This is the commandment. The last of the ten. This might be for a reason. Look at the rest of the commandments and see how coveting can cause us to break the rest of the commandments. Look in the Old Testament for what will happen to the people who are covetous. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekial Dangers of Coveting 24 No man 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. Matt 6:24 (KJV) The main thing we seem to covet is money. Why can’t we desire God earnestly instead of the things of this World. 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matt 6:31-34 (KJV) We can be guilty of coveting the necessities. We spend much time desiring food, drink and clothing. Think about the people who rob someone for their shoes or jacket. This is because they were coveting their clothes. Some people covet alcohol and everyone covets food. Oh how I would love to go to Outback tonight. Lets drive 15 miles to go to McDonalds so we can get a quarter pounder. Does any of these sound familiar? 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. Matt 13:22 (KJV) The cares of this world will choke the word out. The desires of what this world has to offer will hinder our walk with Jesus and it will cause us to water down the Word of God. Lets put these things away and stop desiring the things that do not matter. 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Matt 16:26 (KJV) Do I even have to say anything about this? 10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. Eccl 5:10 (KJV) If you love silver you will not be satisfied with it. You will never be satisfied with the things you think will make your life better. Has anyone ever said, If I could just get a million dollars I could pay everything off and then I could just live for God. This is a fantasy and according to God’s Word we will not be satisfied with increase. The truth is if we cannot become content with whatever it is we have now, we will never be satisfied with anything because there will always be something else. What should we do? 4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. 5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. Prov 23:4-5 (KJV) Lets quit trying to use our own wisdom and lets turn to God and ask for his wisdom. 8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain. Prov 30:8-9 (KJV) Lets just ask for what we need. Lets learn to live on what is sufficient. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. 1 Cor 5:11 (KJV) We are not to have relationships with people who covet, even a brother. We need to always be aware of the people we keep company with. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints Eph 5:3 (KJV) Let it not be named ONCE!!!! Among you. 5 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. Heb 13:5 (KJV) We can summarize this entire study on this one verse. If we can live according to this one verse we will not have to worry if we are covetous or not. My challenge this weed is for everyone to find an area that you are covetous in, and do not say I do not covet anything. Everyone covets. Remember when I said that covetousness is usually the cause for us to break the other nine commandments. When you find an area that you are covetous in, take it to God and pray that he will teach you to be content in all things as Paul was. I hope this message will help someone and I will be working on my own areas of coveting. Praise God for mercy.