“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 NKJ)

To covet: To desire for something that does not belong to you.

Coveting can be traced back to the original sin in the garden.

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:6 NKJ)

• Satan took something that did not belong to him or them and made it look good, pleasant to the eyes and desirable.
• Satan will always appeal to your senses to cause you to covet what does not belong to you.

Jesus warned us about covetousness:

And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” (Luke 12:15 NKJ)

• God is not opposed to us having things, but what He does not things taking His place in our lives.

Don’t be greedy (Don’t covet), for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. (Colossians 3:5 NLT)

The answer to covetousness is the Principle of Contentment.

#1 CONTENT

Let your conduct be WITHOUT COVETOUSNESS; BE CONTENT with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5 NKJ)

• Content means: happy or satisfied.
• Principle of Contentment is the state of being happy and satisfied with what you have.
• Contentment is not just an emotion but a spiritual place.

#2 CONTENTION

CONTENT- ION. Same root word “content” which means satisfied. But by simply adding “ION” at the end, it means: a quarrel, a dispute, a competition.

A person who is in contention is a person who is not content but has an inward struggle: Comparing ourselves with others.
For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. (2 Corinthians 10:12 NKJ)

• Classing and comparing is foolish. In the body of Christ, we are all equal.

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to BE CONTENT: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (Philippians 4:11,12 NKJ)

Paul is saying: I’m not in contention. I have learned to be content.

#3 DELIGHT

Delight: A high degree of satisfaction. I hope you can make the connection with word content (Being satisfied)

Do not fret because of evildoers, Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, And wither as the green herb. (Psalm 37:1,2 NKJ)

• Don’t be in contention with the wicked. Don’t envy them. Don’t compare yourself to them.

Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. (Psalm 37:3 NKJ)

• Trust God. Remain planted where He has called you. Do what He has called you to do.

DELIGHT yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4 NKJ)

• Does not mean this: Love God and He will give you everything you desire.
• In context it means this: If you trust and serve the Lord, He will actually put the right desires in your heart.
• Those desires would be pure and motivated by you being content with God’s provision.

CONCLUSION:

What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through this message?