Lesson Twenty-One

THE TENTH COMMANDMENT (2)

YOU SHALL NOT COVET

Burden to Impart:

As God's children we need not be anxious concerning our living, for He has promised to take care of us (Heb. 13:5-6). Neither should we allow our heart to be drawn away from Him and His will because of covetousness, desiring and pursuing what we do not really need or what God has not allotted to us. The secret of being inwardly content with the Lord's presence in whatever circumstances we find ourselves will kill covetousness and bring us peace and satisfaction (Phil. 4:11-i3).

Memory Verse:

 "...I have learned, in whatever circumstances I am, to be content" (Philippians 4:11).

Facts to Teach:

  1. As God's children we should not be anxious for any necessity of life, whether food, clothing, or housing. He cares for the birds and He has promised that if we seek first His kingdom that He will see that all of our needs are taken care of (Matt. 6:33). Anxiety is caused by the lack of trust in God. This is an insult to the Lord.
  2. The main cause of covetousness is not because of need, but because of being dissatisfied with what we have. Happiness does not come from possessing more, it comes from being satisfied and content with what we already have.
  3. Our fallen human nature can never be satisfied with what it acquires and possesses; the "eye is not satisfied with seeing" (Ecc. 1:8). If we seek happiness by trying to satisfy all of our desires, we will only find, as king Solomon did, that it is like chasing the wind, and is a vexation to our spirit (Ecc. 1:14).
  4. The apostle Paul warns us that covetousness leads to many temptations and snares, foolish and harmful desires, which plunge men into ruin and destruction (1 Tim. 6:9-10) and will turn our heart away from God.
  5. He also taught us that our chief desire should be to live a life of godliness with contentment, not a life of self-indulgence and covetousness.
  6. Paul overcame covetousness. He desired no man's gold or silver. Rather, in his desire to lead men to Christ, he labored night and day, so that he could supply his own needs, and the needs of those with him (Acts 20:33-35). He did not desire to be profited from others, rather, he desired to spend and be utterly spent for their sake (2 Cot. 12:15).
  7. To overcome the sin of covetousness we, like Paul, must also learn the secret of being satisfied in whatever circumstances we find ourselves (Phil. 4:11-12), for God has brought us there.