INSIGHT
 

But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead.

                                                                        Rom 7:8

 

When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; {14} but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. {15} Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

                                                            James 1:13-15

 

    Selfish, self-gratifying, lustful, enticing desires.  These desires are the center of what the tenth commandment warns about.  This commandment strikes at the very core of the desires that entice and lead us to sin and to break all the commands of God.

 

   The tenth commandment is the only commandment that does not deal particularly with an action or lack thereof.  It deals more with attitudes of the heart.  It is a command directed at the core of our desire for self-satisfaction.  It addresses the sinful nature and condemns it.  No one can escape the judgment of the tenth commandment because it basically tells everyone that they are selfish, self-seeking beings.

 

   Every sinful act or thought can be traced back to covetousness.  The nature of the flesh is to be covetous.  The only time we are not being covetous is when we are loving.  God’s nature is to love.  God IS LOVE.  People, on the other hand, are covetous.  The flesh IS covetous.  This is the reason why Paul teaches:

 

So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.  For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.                                               Gal 5:16-18
The Heart of God: The Tenth Commandment
The Envy Trap

Key Text:                             Exodus 20:17

 

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

 

Theme:

The Hebrew word for covet (hamad) refers to an enthusiastic desire. The word itself is morally neutral. That is, you can covet great things as well as bad things. You can have an overwhelming desire to serve God or a brother in need.  However, when your desires turn toward serving self; when you are enticed by the flesh to gratify your sinful nature and you yearn to please your heart, then your covetousness leads you away from the Spirit and into sin.  And the results of coveting in this manner are always morally wrong because they lead us away from God.  The end result?  DEATH.

 

Application:

Here are some helpful suggestions:

1.      Don’t think about what you could HAVE...               Think about what you do have and use it to glorify God.  If you don’t have it you probably don’t need it. You’re doing fine without it.

2.      Don’t think about what you could DO...           Think about what you are doing! What are you doing at this very time with your life? Are you using your life, or are you being used by it?

3.      Focus your energies on someone in need...        redirect your steps toward brothers and sisters that need your company and your fellowship.  Focus your energies on putting your flesh to work for the Kingdom instead of for yourself.

4.      See yourself as God’s agent who manages blessings for the good of all... Your business is to give, not to receive; to build up, not to destroy; to make peace, not to divide. Know your place in God’s Kingdom!

 May the Lord richly bless you!

 

Sermon Outline

 

“The Envy Trap”

Introduction: Last Week

 

   1. The ninth commandment dealt with the

       importance of moral speech!

   2. False testimony can lead astray a whole nation

       (Nu 13:26-14:4)

   3. God’s desire for His people to speak faithful

        words (Mal. 2:4-9)

   4. Our speech should be that for building up

      (Eph 4:22ff)

   5. The world glorifies lies and compromise: Do not

       fall in its trap!

I. Tenth Commandment: Moral Thoughts

Exodus 20:17

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

 

     A. Root of the whole problem!

          1. This command strikes at the root

              a.  Commands 5-9 deals with externals: forbids

                  actions that injure your neighbor!

              b. The tenth deals with the internal: pledging

                   all of one’s energies to self-gratification!

                 -- covetousness is the root of the malignant

                     tumor known as “sin”

                 --In it is the sting of death!

          2. Jesus explains the root of the problem

              (Matt. 15:17-20a)

              a.  What proceeds from heart is polluted

                   (Jer. 17:9)

              b. The violation of the Law stems here!

                   1. Murder, adultery, theft, falsehood, etc.

 

     B. Examples of covetousness

           1. Material Greed: King Ahab (1 Kings 21:1-16)

                --prior to murder and theft was covetousness

           2.  Lust: King David (2 Sam. 11:1ff)

                --prior to the adultery, murder an theft  was

                   covetousness

           3. Leech: A sluggard (Prov. 21:25-26)

 

II. Conclusion:  Paul’s Personal Confession: Rom. 7,8

      1. Covetousness made apparent by the Law

      2. Plug into the power: Jesus Christ!
Small Group Study

Warm-up:

Name the form of success that is most attractive to you from this list: money, athletic ability, intelligence, physical attractiveness, fame, power, or some other. Why does it attract you?

 

See To It                                          Romans 7:1-8:6

Here’s a test: Until you get to question 1 of next section, no matter what happens, promise not to scratch your nose or any other part of your head. There is a purpose for this!

 

1. Read Romans 7:1-8:6. What law was Paul

    referring to when he said:  “Is the law sin?” How do

    you know? Explain from the Scriptures.

 

2. What did the law reveal to Paul?  What does the law

    reveal to you personally?

 

3. Explain verses 9,10. What did Paul mean when said:

    “I was alive apart from the law”?

 

4. What does a “No Trespassing” or a “Wet Pain”

    sign promote us to do? What is Paul’s point in

    Romans 7?

 

OK. Scratch your itch. Paul’s point is proven!

 

Seeing It Closer                              

 

1. Is Paul saying that it is all right to continue to live the

    way we want to, since Law puts us to death?

 

2. What is the only solution to the problem of

    covetousness in our lives? Who can make a difference

    and how? Can our own strength change our hearts?

 

3. How has God’s Holy Spirit worked to transform

    and renew your mind?

 

Getting It Together

Only those who follow Christ can be saved from this wretched thing called envy. But to follow Him is much more than being baptized, going to church, and having people think well of you. It is emptying yourself, giving everything up for Jesus!

This week's Quiet Times:

The Envy Trap

 

MONDAY

To understand the commandments is to understand human nature.  God reveals our weaknesses through them “for he understands how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust” (Psalms 103:14).  Read Exodus 20:17.  We are all guilty of one form of covetousness or another and need to understand it so that through Jesus Christ we can overcome!  First look up the word covet or covetousness in a dictionary (the Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary has an especially clear definition in it).  Write the definition down.  Now list the things God speaks of in the commandment that we are covetous of.  Remember that the word neighbor includes everyone!  Which of these things do you struggle with the most and why?  Bring your sin to the Lord in prayer and ask for forgiveness and deliverance.  He will hear the prayer of faith and he will answer!!

 

TUESDAY

Today we are going to look at the result of a covetous heart.  Remember when God issued the commandments to his children he also promised that those who obeyed would inherit the promised land (a land flowing with milk and honey--Canaan)!! Read Joshua 5-7. Here we see God in his awesome power fulfilling his promise to the Israelites.  He is delivering a great and powerful city into their hands in order to give them the promised land.   God clearly shows them that he provides everything they need.  Take note of  6:17-19.  He specifically tells them that all the silver, gold, bronze and iron in Jericho was to be devoted to the Lord, they were not to take these as personal possessions.  What was Achin’s sin?  What was the cause of this sin?  Do you see how dangerous it is to follow the desires of the heart?  What was the consequences of Achin’s sin for himself?  His family?  And all Israel?  If you read chapter 8 you will see how foolish Achin was to take what God had not yet given him.  The next city God gave to Israel was called Ai and with this city he allowed them to take the very articles that Achin coveted.  He just was not patient enough to let the Lord provide for him.  Understand that God is to be revered and that we will also die if we submit to covetousness as opposed to the Lord!!  Truly “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov.9:10).  Write Matthew 6:21 on an index card and commit it to heart!  Make sure that the Lord and his kingdom are what you treasure above all else!! 

 

WEDNESDAY

Read 1Corinthians 10:1-13  and you will see that everything written in the Old Testament was written as an example for you and me!  Now turn to 2Kings 5. What motivated Gehazi to lie to Namaan?  What was it he desired?  What was the result of his sin?  Apply this to your own life.  Are you honest with your brothers and sisters and your discipler about the things you are pursuing and want or are you like Gehazi, pursuing these things and then trying to hide it?  Is there anything you are doing (coveting) that you do not want to be open about ?  Understand that you are called to live in the light (1John 1:5-7). Confess your sin to the Lord and to another brother or sister who is able to pray for you, advise you and help you (see James 5:13-16)!  Remember that in the Lord “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).      

 

THURSDAY

Hopefully you have already been convicted about the sin of covetousness in your life, if not, prepare for today’s quiet time!  Let’s read James 4:1-10.  Do you recognize the desires that battle within you?  What are they?  How are you at controlling them?  What is the answer to your struggles?  Write verse 7 on an index card, and carry it with you until you memorize it!  Make signs with scriptures to hang in your room or on your refrigerator which will help you overcome your struggles. 

 

FRIDAY

Understanding who and what we really are and where we stand before God requires spiritual maturity.  Read Romans 7&8 and learn from the apostle Paul.  What did sin produce in Paul?  How did Paul view himself in v.18?  Why did he view himself this way?  How do you see yourself in relation to God?  According to chapter 8 what are we obligated to live by?  How can we accomplish this?  Take time to reflect on what it means to live according to the Spirit.  What are some things you will do today to please the Spirit as opposed to pleasing the flesh?  Call a brother or sister and share these things with him or her!