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If Only…
Sunday, January 30, 2022
Pastor Jojo Ma
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Exodus 20:17
17 You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.
“The Cult of the Next Thing’s central message proclaims, ‘Crave and spend, for the kingdom of stuff is here.’”
Lk 12:15 Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.
I. The Commandment: Don’t Covet [Ex 20:17]
II. The Problem: The Heart [Mk 7:21-22]
III. The Solution: Learn Contentment [Phil 4:11]
I. The Commandment: Don’t Covet [Ex 20:17]
17 You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.
Coveting is a sin of desire that badly wants what the world has. It’s a craving of what the world has to offer so that your heart gets satisfied in a worldly way.
Coveting focuses on wanting what others have, envy is a dislike toward a person for what they have. In other words, coveting centers on the possession while envy centers on the person.
Gen 3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate.
Jam 4:1-2 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.
17 You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.
Mk 7:21-22 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.
Eph 5:5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
II. The Problem: The Heart [Mk 7:21-22]
Mk 7:21-22 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.
Jam 1:14-15 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
What do I want right now? Where will it lead me?
There’s nothing we need more than a Savior. There’s nothing we can give thanks for more than for our Savior. His name is Jesus. Do you know him?
Jn 14:6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.
III. The Solution: Learn Contentment [Phil 4:11]
Phil 4:11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
If you base your contentment on your life circumstances or on anything in the world, you will always open your heart to discontentment.
Tragically it is how far too many people live, living based on their life circumstances, on their perceived hopes of the good life, on discontentment and coveting what others have or what could’ve been. That’s worldly living, that’s not the way of Christ.
Contentment is wanting what God wants for you rather than what you want for you.
1 Tim 6:6-10 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Heb 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Jeremiah Burroughs, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment: “I have a sufficient portion between Christ and my soul abundantly to satisfy me in every condition.”
Phil 4:11-12 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.