Pastor Dale Piscura
May God grant that each of us may covet Him, for His glory, and for our good.
Facts About Coveting
- It is an invisible sin.
- It emerges from an ungrateful heart.
- It can destroy lives.
- It begins close to home (hating a neighbor).
- It is a sin no one will admit to.
- It has many forms.
- It motivates a person to carry out sinful acts.
- It is an ancient sin.
- It can lead to all forms of wickedness.
Types of Covetousness
- Material Covetousness: Desiring and longing for material possessions, such as wealth, property, or luxurious items.
- Financial Covetousness: An excessive desire for money or financial success, often leading to unethical or immoral actions to achieve wealth.
- Social Covetousness: Seeking after the social status, reputation, or recognition possessed by others.
- Sexual Covetousness: An excessive or inappropriate desire for sexual experiences, relationships, or the physical attributes of others.
- Career Covetousness: Coveting another person’s career achievements, success, or professional standing.
- Physical Appearance Covetousness: Excessively desiring the physical attributes or appearance of others, often leading to dissatisfaction with one’s own body.
- Technological Covetousness: Constantly desiring the latest gadgets, technology, or possessions, even if they are not necessary.
- Educational Covetousness: Excessive desire for academic achievements, degrees, or intellectual accomplishments.
- Spiritual Covetousness: Envying or desiring the spiritual gifts, experiences, or closeness to God that others may seem to have.
- Time Covetousness: An unhealthy desire for more time or a different life circumstance, often leading to discontent with the present moment.
Biblical examples of coveting
- Satan
- Adam & Eve
- Cain
- Achan
- David
- Ahab
- Judas
- Pharisees
Scriptures referenced in today’s message
- Exodus 20:17-21
- Psalm 10:3
- James 4:1-2
- Philippians 4:11-13
- 1 John 2:15-16
- Colossians 3:2-5
- 1 Timothy 6:6-12
Quotes from today’s message
“Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, freely submitting to, and taking delight in God’s wise, and fatherly disposal in every condition.”
Jeremiah Burroughs, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
“…whatever you meet with, you may quiet your heart with this: I know I am where God would have me. Nothing in the world will quiet the heart so much as this: when I meet with any cross, I know I am where God would have me, in my place and calling; I am about the work that God has set me.”
Jeremiah Burroughs, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
“It is but one side of a Christian to endeavour to do what pleases God; you must as well endeavour to be pleased with what God does, and so you will come to be a complete Christian when you can do both, and that is the first thing in the excellence of this grace of contentment.”
Jeremiah Burroughs, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
“My brethren, the reason why you do not have contentment in the things of the world is not that you do not have enough of them. The reason is that they are not things proportional to that immortal soul of yours that is capable of God Himself.”
Jeremiah Burroughs, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment
“Here is the truth that we each need to rehearse: “God gave to me exactly what I require, I am composed exactly as He planned, and all that He has, and has not, given me is for my good and His glory.”
Alistair Begg
“You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in Thee.”
Augustine of Hippo
Key texts for a study of coveting in the Bible:
- Genesis 6:5
- Exodus 18:21, 20:17
- Deuteronomy 5:21, 15:7-10
- Joshua 7:21
- Psalm 119:33-40
- Proverbs 11:6-7, 21:25-26, 23:1-8, 17-21, 28:22, 30:7-9
- Ecclesiastes 4:8
- Jeremiah 22:13-17
- Ezekiel 33:31
- Micah 2:1-2
- Habakkuk 2:4-9
- Matthew 6:19-24, 13:44-46, 16:21-27
- Mark 7:20-23, 10:17-22
- Luke 12:13-21, 16:14
- Acts 20:33-35
- Romans 7:7-11, 8:5-8
- 1 Corinthians 5:9-13, 6:10, 12:31, 14:39
- 2 Corinthians 9:5
- Ephesians 5:3-6
- Philippians 3:17-20, 4:11-13
- Colossians 3:1-7
- 1 Timothy 6:6-10
- Hebrews 13:5-6
- James 1:13-15, 4:1-2
