IDEA: Covetousness makes us discontent, but contentment keeps us from covetousness.

TEXT: "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s" (Exodus 20:17).

"You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s" (Deuteronomy 5:21).

PURPOSE: To help listeners understand how contentment works against covetousness.

In Hebrews 13:5 we read, "Let your conduct be without covetousness and be content with such things as you have." How do you think covetousness and contentment relate to each other?

I. Covetousness makes us discontent with what we have.

We can often see this in our children who are content with what they have until they see something else.

We can see it better in our own lives: We are content with our car or television set until we see one a bit newer or bigger or better. Now what we have no longer satisfies us.

II. Contentment keeps us from being covetous.

If you were to decide to limit yourself only to what you need, that can do a great deal to help you deal with covetousness.

Being around people who have less than you have makes you aware of how much you do have. This is biblical because the Bible places a great emphasis on our concern for the poor and needy.