The Sin That No One Wants To Admit

Ex. 20:17 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.

We look at the other nine commandments this summer. WE are going to look at the Tenth one today. What were the other commandments?

Commandment # 1... "No God's Before Me..."
Commandment # 2... "Thou Shalt Make No Graven Image.."
Commandment # 3... "Thou Shalt Not Take The Name of the Lord Thy God in Vain..."
Commandment # 4... "Remember the Sabbath Day...."
Commandment # 5... "Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother:... "
Commandment # 6... "Thou Shalt Not Kill." ...
Commandment # 7... "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery..."
Commandment # 8... "Thou Shalt Not Steal..."
Commandment # 9... "Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness..."

The first four related to the Lord. If this relationship is not right, then the next six will never be right. The problem is that we are rarely always right with the Lord so no wonder we are messed up when it come to the other commandments.

I have said this several times but it needs to be repeated again. The Ten Commandments are not to save you but show you how far you are from God in your life.

With commandments number six through nine, you will find laws that cover them. But you will not find any laws covering number ten that is simply “Thou shalt not covet”.

"I want...I want...I want..." has been the theme song for millions today. Few are satisfied with what they have. They always want more. Selfish people have simply imbibed the spirit of a materialistic age. That is why covetousness plays such a large part in their drives and deeds. We will be looking at right wants and wrong wants. It is our desire that we will take a serious checkup on our inner longings for things in the light of the Bible's teaching on this subject.

The basis of covetousness seems to lie at the root of many sins such as stealing, adultery, self-centeredness, even murder just to name a few.

I want to give you a few thoughts on this sin that people rarely admit to having in their life. What will they not admit to having it? Number six through nine is sins that some one can see but this one is kept inside and the only person that really sees it is the Lord.

The Tenth Commandment reaches into three areas of our lives, property, persons and possessions.

You would not steal your neighbor's house, but you wish it were yours.
You would not run off with your neighbor's wife, but you wish she were yours.
You would not rob your neighbor of his money, or car, but you wish those things were yours.

Covetousness is the excessive inward desire for the material things of this world. It has been called, "an itch for more…" A covetous person has a severe craving for the possessions or life circumstances of others. It's not just a casual "wouldn't it be nice if..." It is a strong; "I want what you have, because I feel that is what will satisfy me and make me happy."

Once you start coveting something that some one else has, you will not stop. It will get into the fiber on your mind. One of the riches men in the world was asked how much money makes a man happy. His answer shows a coveting heart. He said “just one dollar more.” This is shows why this is a sin that people rarely admit to having.

Here are some thoughts regarding the misery of coveting;

First, God knows that what we covet will not last. Clothes wear out. Cars wear out. X Box game systems wear out. But we usually will be bored with it before it wears out. 2 Cor. 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Secondly, God knows that what we covet will be a burden to us somewhere down the line. David coveted his neighbor’s wife and after this, he had nothing but pain and agony in his life. The sin of coveting added a host of other sins to his life. David would never dreamed that night he would covet his neighbor’s wife or that he would commit adultery with her or have husband killed. One of the saddest psalms that he wrote was Psalm 51. He admits his before God but he had to live with the consequences of his actions of that night for the rest of his life.

Thirdly, God knows that coveting is deceptive. Let’s think on the words of our Lord Jesus on this subject. Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Having all the toys will not make you happy. Having the best toys will make you happy. It is simply because they will not last. There will be a faster toys or a brighter one come along in a little while.

The mastery over coveting is simple. Be content with what you have and where you are.

Php. 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Heb. 13:5-6 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. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

1 Tim. 6:6-8 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

I have been preaching a long time. One of the things that I have learned is this: I have never seen a U-Haul trailer behind a hearse yet.

Conclusion: When all you live for is the toys and how much you can get, you will be a miserable person. But the opposite of coveting is contentment. The opposite of getting is giving. Are you a getter or a giver? The choice is yours.

A message preached by Pastor Mike Walls, Freedom Baptist Church, Smithfield, NC