Ten: Week Ten

The Tenth Commandment – Contentment

God gave us the Ten Commandments to teach us about relationships, relationships with Him and with other people. We’ll study this tenth commandment by examining: 

1. The Principle of Contentment and the question of what is coveting.
2. Three suggestions to battle the temptation to covet.
3. The question of what’s the answer to being content.

• In the Tenth Commandment, God gives us the Principle of Contentment, but what is coveting? 

In Exodus 20:17, God warns us not to covet, which brings us to the Principle of Contentment. The only reason we covet what someone else has is because we’re not content with what we have.

What is coveting?

– Deuteronomy 5:21 restates the commandment not to covet and adds the phrase, “set  your desire.” Covet means, “to strongly desire.”

– Here are some verses that warn against coveting:

  1. In Luke 12:15, Jesus says to beware of coveting.

  2. In 1 Corinthians 5:11, covetousness is listed in a group of some serious sins.

  3. In Colossians 3:5, covetousness is equated with idolatry. When the desire for something or someone replaces God or is put above God, it’s idolatry. 

– God isn’t saying it’s wrong to desire. He’s saying it’s wrong to strongly desire what belongs to someone else because it will become an idol.

• Here are some suggestions that can help us battle the temptation to covet.

1. Learn to admire without the desire to acquire.

    – Discontentment is an appetite that’s never fully satisfied.

2. Make a confession about your obsession.

    – Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 6:8 to be content with all our blessings. More than anything, our blessings include forgiveness.

    – In 1 Timothy 6:7, Paul reminds us that we start with zero, and we end with zero.

    – Psalm 139:16 tells us that all our days have been ordained. 

3. Turn your resentment into contentment.

    – In Philippians 4:12, Paul tells us that he knows what it’s like to have plenty and to be in need. Regardless of the situation, Paul always found contentment. 

• What’s the answer to being content?

Psalm 37:4 tells us to delight in the Lord, and the Lord will give us the desires of our heart. 

How do you get your desires right so you can delight?

    – David refers to those who are evil or wicked 14 times in this Psalm. He explains that when it feels like evil is winning, you have to learn to trust God.

    – In Psalm 37:3-4, David says that if you’ll learn to be content with what God has provided for you, you won’t focus on what’s going on around you.

Most people think Psalm 37:3-4 means that if you’ll follow Jesus, He’ll give you whatever you want, but that’s not correct. Rather, it’s that if you’ll follow Jesus, He will put the right desires in your heart.

If we passionately pursue God, we will be passionate about the right things.