The Thief
The dangers of Covetousness.
Covetousness is likely the sin most committed yet the one least talked about
from the pulpit.
The issues of money, fulfillment, and how we understand God’s provision and leadership of our
lives are the core issues of our life and identity in Christ.
Covetousness is the poison that kills the satisfaction and pleasure we find in communion with
Christ.
The Ten Commandments tell us not to covet (Exodus 20:17). We need to know that when the
Lord issues a commandment, he is protecting us from something harmful, not restraining us
from something good.
God’s call to forsake covetousness hems us in, dissuading us from running after things that, on
their own, disappoint, distract, or even destroy. He instead calls us to what is truly good, worthy,
and satisfying: himself.
We must understand that coveting is far more fundamental than a simple struggle
with materialism.
Covetousness is a perversion of the very thing that leads us to God.
Desire, is the engine that makes us pursue God.
Covetousness takes that desire and places it on lesser things. It leads us to believe that we can
be satisfied in creation apart from the Creator.
It then plants seeds of distrust. We begin asking questions of the Lord. Is he really good if he
hasn’t given me all I want? Does he really know what’s best for me?
In all of this, we are questioning truths fundamental to our salvation:
In Christ we are made complete, lacking nothing (Colossians 2:10).
He is our Provider and will never leave us in need (Matthew 6:32-33).
In his presence is the “fullness of joy” and at his right hand are “pleasures forevermore” (Psalm
16:11).
Now we begin to see the treachery of covetousness. Not only is it dangerous for us, it is
offensive to a God.
Covetousness is the foolish endeavor that takes a Christ-follower and sends them grasping for
satisfaction in all the wrong places.
Malachi 3 example
They did evil in the sight of God:
They have brought their worst sick and injured offerings instead of their spotless sacrifices that
he asked.
They divorced their wives for no good reason (Nehemiah 13) and married pagan women and
started worshipping their God’s.
Why?
They tell you in Malachi 3:14-15
14 You (God’s people) have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his
charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? 15 And now we call the arrogant
blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’”
They saw the wicked prosper and in their heart they blamed god for their position…. So they
stopped following him rightly.
Covetousness is accusation against God’s leadership.
Covetousness comes down to what we want.
For believers:
We want things that the world wants outside of God’s plan.
The law does not cleanse you. it reveals you.
You would be completely unaware of you uncontrolled lust and covetousness unless the gospel
was rightly preached to you.
Three areas we covet:
15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father
is not in them. 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life— comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass
away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17)
The Lust of the Flesh
A general longing for something it is formless and abstract, its a desire for gain.
The Lust of the Eyes
The object of the lust of the flesh. The thing we fixate on.
The Pride of Life
The pride of life is the justification for our lust.
1 Timothy 6:3-9
3 If anyone teaches otherwise… 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes
and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless
wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a
means of gain…6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain ... 8 And having food and
clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation
and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and
perdition.
We wait to confess until after we have drowned in our sin, Which is why we don’t confess.
Repentance and confession is so much more enjoyable now.
We have an opportunity now to say God I have covetousness in me take it out at the root.
Psalm 119:36
Incline my heart to Your testimonies
And not to dishonest gain.
Psalm 139:23-24
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
No comments:
Post a Comment