The Tenth Commandment

Order of Service

• Scripture Reading — Exodus 20:1-17
• Westminster Shorter Catechism Reading (Questions 79–81)
• Lesson
• Scripture Reading — James 4:1-4
• Scripture Reading — Philippians 4:10-13
• Scripture Reading — Philippians 4:19
• Closing Prayer

---

Sermon Title: The Tenth Commandment

Scripture: Exodus 20:17

I. Defining Covetousness

A. Covetousness is wishing you had what someone else has, or wishing they did not have what they have B. It is fundamentally discontentment with what God has given us and a selfish desire for what another has C. Westminster Shorter Catechism (Q. 79–81) defines it as failing to have full contentment with our own condition and a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbor D. It is an inward disposition — a placing of ourselves in the position of God, assuming our desires for ourselves are better than his

II. Wanting Things Without Coveting

A. It is possible to desire things without breaking the tenth commandment B. Lawful desires are motivated by love — for God, for others, or for conformity to God's will

1. Examples: courage, gospel preaching, moral courage, sanctification C. James 4:1-4 contrasts lawful desire with sinful wanting
2. The problem James identifies is both the means (willingness to break other commandments) and the motive (feeding one's own passions rather than love)

III. How the Tenth Commandment Differs from the Other Nine

A. It is entirely inward — it concerns disposition, not action B. It is unenforceable by human law; no court can prove covetousness C. It may underlie and precede most, if not all, other sins

1. Example: Cain coveted God's approval of Abel before committing murder (Genesis 4)

IV. What Covetousness Actually Produces

A. Unlike most sins, covetousness yields no immediate gratification or material advantage B. It moves us from a state of contentment and happiness to discontentment and jealousy C. We commit it because we believe it will lead to greater fulfillment — but it never does D. Root causes include:

1. Sinful nature
2. Lack of trust in God's plan and patience with his timing
3. Pride
4. Ingratitude and a tendency toward comparison with others
5. Looking for ultimate purpose in creation rather than in God — cf. Ecclesiastes ("all is vanity")

V. The Cure for Covetousness

A. Philippians 4:10-13 — Paul learned contentment in all circumstances through Christ who strengthens him

1. Contentment is not the same as positivity or putting a good face on things — it is a learned, Christ-dependent disposition B. The example of Job
2. Job did not curse God despite suffering; he recognized God's sovereign right to give and take away
3. His wife's anger illustrates the alternative — blaming God rather than trusting him
4. Biblical contentment is not minimizing pain but trusting God within it C. Philippians 4:19 — God will supply every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus
5. Tension arises when our definition of need differs from God's
6. The solution is aligning our desires with the Lord's

VI. Practical Means of Growing in Contentment

A. Count your blessings — cultivate active gratitude B. Prayer — bring desires and needs before God C. Begin from the understanding that we deserve nothing; receive all as grace D. Set the mind on eternal and heavenly things rather than earthly circumstances E. Remember the supreme gift of Christ — if God gave us his Son, we already have more than we could ever deserve F. Practice generosity — redirects focus from self to others and inclines the heart away from covetousness G. Corporate worship — the example of godly, contented believers encourages and motivates growth in contentment