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Thursday, October 15, 2009

The Purpose of My Life

The Tenth Commandment states, "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." God is pointing out that if we are not satisfied with His provision for us then we will begin to covet our neighbor's possessions. We are going to define "covet" and then examine six characteristics of Coveting.

To covet is to have a desire and to try to acquire what we desire. In Luke 12:15 Jesus warns against the sin of covetousness and then points out "one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." Is it possible that some of us have unwittingly built our lives around our possessions instead of around the Lord Jesus Christ?

In Thomas Watson's book "The Ten Commandments" he lists six particulars about coveting that is helpful for us to examine our hearts in regard to the sin of coveting.

The first aspect of coveting is my thoughts are wholly taken up with the world. In Matthew 6:32 Jesus states that the "Gentiles seek". The verb to seek means to seek with great desire. In other words, one might be consumed with the material of the world.

The second particular speaks to the commitment one has to obtain worldly possessions. In 1 John 2:15 we are instructed not to love the things of the world. The word "love" means loyalty and commitment. My desire is more for the things of the world than for the Lord Jesus Christ.

A Third particular is my conversation is always centered on worldly matters. In Philippians 3:17-19 Paul warns us not to have our minds set on earthly things.

Another particular is my refusal to give up the worldly possessions. In Matthew 19:16-22 and individual desired to follow Jesus but he had many possessions and did not want to part with them in order to follow Jesus. I must see if I have the same attitude in my own heart.

The fifth particular is that I overload myself with worldly business. In Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus warns us about the treasures of our hearts and how we should be more concerned with treasures in heaven than on earth.

The final particular addresses the real God of my life. Matthew 6:24 states, "You cannot serve God and money." Am I consumed with the desire to obtain more and more money so I will have enough. What is "enough money" for me to live on?

Overcoming coveting lies in the truth found in two passages of Scripture. The first is Philippians 4:11-13. Am I willing to be content with what the Lord has provided for me? The second one is Matthew 6:33 where Jesus promise us that if we seek Him and His righteousness all these things will be provided for you.

The issue we must deal with in our lives is being content with all that God has provided for me. If I am not then the sin of covetousness will control my life. My life should be controlled by the Holy Spirit not by sin.

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