Sermon Tone Analysis

*why God hates covetousness** - Eurostile*

*Numbers 11:4-35*

*Niles Grace** Brethren Church*

*10~/12~/08*

 

 

*1.

Awash in covetousness*

 

*1a.

Materialism and covetousness are Siamese twins*

 

We covet and sacrifice too much to get it

We discover that it only makes us covet more

We are never satisfied

 

Ecclesiastes 5:10 {NKJV} {10} - He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase.

This also is vanity.

Isaiah 5:8 {NKJV} {8} - Woe to those who join house to house; They add field to field, Till there is no place Where they may dwell alone in the midst of the land!

*2a.

Covetousness brings many heartaches with it*

 

*1b.

Consider the high cost of covetousness for Israel*

 

Numbers 14:27-29 {NKJV} {27} - “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me?

I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me.

{28} - Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: {29} - The carcasses of you who have complained against Me shall fall in this wilderness, all of you who were numbered, according to your entire number, from twenty years old and above.

*2b.

Covetousness exacts a high price today*

 

1 Timothy 6:10 {NKJV} {10} - For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

*/1c.

Some have strayed from the faith in their greediness/*

 

Go to church Sunday or try to take care of business

Isn’t God big enough to make up those extra hours

 

Some sacrifice Biblical principles

Some have sacrificed their integrity

Some have dragged God and Christianity through the mud

All for a few bucks or that new contract or promotion

 

*/2c.

Some have pierces themselves through with many sorrows/*

 

They weren’t there for their family

Once they got that big promotion they would get back to the family

But when they arrived, they discovered they had lost their family

 

*3a.

The deceptiveness of covetousness *

 

Don’t need to tell man drowning in ocean that he has a water problem

But it is difficult to tell covetousness person he has problem with materialism

Covetousness makes us feel dry and thirsty inside

 

*2.

What is covetousness?*

*1a.

A four part definition of covetousness *

 

*1b.

Covetousness is wanting wrong things*

 

Wanting your neighbor’s wife

Wanting power without a reason

Wanting control

Wanting wealth

Wanting glory and praise from others

 

*2b.

Covetousness is wanting right things for wrong reasons*

 

There are many things we can do well to want or desire

But we can want them for the wrong reason

 

Wanting the office of elder is a good thing

But you have to want it for the right reason

 

1 Timothy 3:1 {NKJV} {1} - This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.

*3b.

Covetousness is wanting right things at the wrong time*

 

The intimacy of the marriage relationship is a God-given desire

But seeking it before marriage is sin

Right desire – wrong time

 

*4b.

Covetousness is wanting right things in the wrong amount*

 

Desiring peach cobbler is a good want

But I run into trouble with this --- wrong amount --- part of the principle

 

Money is not a wrong thing

It is a necessary part of life

But watch again what Paul writes to Timothy

 

1 Timothy 6:10 {NKJV} {10} - For the love of money is *a root* of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

The problem is that we do not know when to stop

When I want more money than I need that is covetousness

 

We may think that more money will make me happy

But we soon learn the tragic truth

 

*2a.

Summarize – what is covetousness?*

Covetousness is wanting wrong things

Covetousness is wanting right things for wrong reasons

Covetousness is wanting right things at the wrong time

Covetousness is wanting right things in wrong amounts.

*2.

The three act play*

 

*1a.

Act 1: Yielding to covetousness and why God hates it*

 

*1b.

Covetousness becomes sin when we yield to it*

 

Numbers 11:4 {NKJV} {4} - Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: “Who will give us meat to eat?

 

*/1c.

The mixed multitude/*

 

Mixed multitude = rabble

Israelite people who intermarried with the Egyptians

Worshippers of Jehovah married to worshippers of false gods

Bible condemns inter-faith marriages

 

Solomon’s marriages to inter-faith women brought him down

We are not to be unequally yoked

 

2 Corinthians 6:14 {NKJV} {14} - Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.

For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness?

And what communion has light with darkness?

*/2c.

They yielded to intense cravings/*

 

They started looking for happiness in something else