You Shall Not Covet

Luke 12:15

Introduction

1. Money is not evil

2. Possessions are not bad

3. When they take a higher place then God = sin

4. This is a difficult subject because it deals with our mind, attitude.

Observe

1. Covetousness (the excessive desire and greed for gain) is sin.

   1. Serious offense

      1. Listed along with murder and adultery

      2. Covetousness cannot enter heaven

      3. A sin worthy of death

   2. Angers God

   3. Covetousness is idolatry – Colossians 3:5

   4. It is evil

   5. It is a form of lust

2. The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil – 1 Timothy 6:10

   1. Greed for gain is the motivation for spiritual wickedness

   2. It is the cause of social unrest and trouble

      1. Murder

      2. Robbery

      3. Kidnapping – Genesis 37:26-28

      4. Rioting

      5. Perjury – lying

      6. Violence

      7. Prostitution

3. Covetousness is the cause of many spiritual and personal conflicts

   1. Pride – conceit

   2. Not bearing fruit

   3. Backsliding

   4. Rejecting God’s will

   5. Guilt

4. Covetousness should have no place among Christians

   1. Withdraw from such – 1 Corinthians 5:11

5. It is important that we have a right attitude toward our possessions

   1. Content with what we have

   2. Not trust in uncertain riches

   3. We are not to love the world – or anything in it

6. We must guard against the “deceitfulness of riches” – Matthew 13:22

   1. Material possessions do not bring happiness

   2. The pleasure that riches provide are temporary

   3. They do not satisfy

   4. There is no security in riches

   5. In heaven – all our money and possessions are worthless

   6. The rich die like everyone else

   7. Covetousness leads to many sorrows

7. God wants our security and trust to be in Him – Psalm 91:2