You shall not covet Exodus 20 17 What

You shall not covet. (Exodus 20: 17) What if everyone was perfectly satisfied?

Exodus 20: 17 17 You shall not covet your neighbour's house; you shall not covet your neighbour's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbour's.

Questions to ask ourselves about our desires Do I have a legitimate right to this? Why do I want it? How would it advance God’s kingdom? How would it help me to love God and others?

1. The desires of the heart

2. Desire God and the good of others

Dealing with desire drivers Anxiety –Matthew 6: 21 -33 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat? ’ or ‘What shall we drink? ’ or ‘What shall we wear? ’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Dealing with desire drivers Greed – 1 Timothy 6: 9 -11 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

Dealing with desire drivers Greed – 1 Timothy 6: 17 -19 17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Dealing with desire drivers Selfishness – James 4: 3 -10 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?

Dealing with desire drivers Selfishness – James 4: 3 -10 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. ” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you doubleminded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.