Ten Commandments - Exodus 20:17


Sermon Notes. Ten Commandments

Exodus 20:17, ‘Do not covet your neighbour’s house. Do not covet your neighbour’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else your neighbour owns.’ Learn to be content with what you have!

This commandment is about our desires, it’s about always wanting that little bit more. Covetousness is like sea water, the more you drink it, the thirstier you get.

1: We covet money and the things that money buys us. Do not buy into the catch of MORE! Thinking that having more will make us happy. Don’t buy into the catch that you are just one purchase away from true contentment. The Bible does not condemn wealth. No-where does the Bible say that money is evil, but what it does say is that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Someone has said the best way to have a contended state of mind is to count our blessings not our cash.

2: We covet fame and the lifestyle of the rich and famous. In a survey, 70% of all 18-24 year olds define success in terms of wealth and career, and live under huge pressures to succeed, and climb the ladder, get to the top. It’s not just money and things we can covet, we can covet other people’s lifestyles. We want to be like our heroes and want to have a lifestyle like them.

3: It’s really impossible to live in the 21st Century and not feel the pressures and not get caught up into the desires for that little bit more, for that little extra. Whether we like it or not, or admit it or not, the latest ‘must haves’ make what we already have, begin to feel so out of date! A good motto I came across is this: ‘Use it up – wear it out – make it do – or do without.’ It’s about learning to be content with what we already have, that is the best antidote to coveting. People live in one of two tents: content or discontent. Are you content? Trusting God in your situation, your circumstances right now?

4: I want to be generous with the good things God has given to me and share them with others. Covetousness makes people grab and get. Thankfulness makes you share and give. Do you believe what Jesus said, ‘that it is more blessed to give than to ‘receive.’

5: I want to remind myself that people in my life are far more important than anything I could ever buy for them. The best things parents can give their children is time, not treasure. Children need parents Presence not Presents. Do you need less expenses and more time with your family? Do you need to look at your work and your family and ask yourself, where is the balance?

6: I want to desire the things God desires for me, then I will be truly happy. Only God can give the desires of our hearts. Psalm 34:4, ‘Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you, your hearts desires.’ Happiness in life comes from purpose. God made us for a purpose and in Jesus we find that purpose. We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, for what is unseen is eternal.