Would you turn back to Hebrews
chapter 13. Remind you this Sunday we are going to have a supper
together after the morning service and fellowship together and we
won't have PM services this coming Sunday. I've been preaching through Hebrews
chapter 13 and Verse four, marriage is honorable and all in the bed
undefiled, but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. I'm
going to use that verse of scripture when we get into First Corinthians
chapter seven very soon. And I want to bring a message
on what the Bible has to say about marriage. But I've entitled
this message, A Cure for Covetousness. Paul says in verse 5, or whoever
wrote Hebrews, let your conversation, now your
conversation is your manner of life. When you get up in the
morning, whatever it is you do, let your conversation be without
covetousness. When you go to work and you're
around people, let your conversation be without covetousness. When you're at home that evening
with your family, whatever you're doing, let your conversation
be without covetousness. Your conversation is your day-to-day
manner of life, your character, your deportment. Let it be without
covetousness. What is covetousness? Well, it's
the 10th commandment of the Ten Commandments. Let me read you
in Exodus chapter 20, verse 17. Listen to the Word of God. Thou
shalt not covet thy neighbor's house. Thou shalt not covet thy
neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his
ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's. There is an element of covetousness
involved in the breaking of the other nine commandments. Was
it not covetousness that motivated Satan in his original fall when
he said, I'll exalt my throne above the stars of God. He coveted God's position and
God cast him out of heaven. Was not covetousness involved
in the fall of Adam and Eve where Satan tempted them, you'll be
like God, you'll be as God's. And they wanted his position.
They coveted his position. They didn't want to be under
his authority. And you know what happened? As a result, Paul said
in Colossians chapter 3 verse 5 that covetousness is idolatry. Covetousness is idolatry, you
make what you covet an object of worship over God. Turn with me for a moment to
Romans chapter 7 verse 7. What should we say then? Is the
law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known
sin but by the law, for I had not known lust except the law
had said, thou shalt not covet. But sin, taking occasion by the
commandment, thou shalt not covet, rot in me all manner of concupiscence,
evil desire, and covetousness. What'd the law do? It stirred
up his covetousness. The problem was not with the
law, the problem was with him. But what the law does is expose
what we are. It doesn't give us a remedy for
what we are. but exposes to us what we are. When Paul found
out he was a sinner, he found out he was completely dominated
by covetousness. Now in our text, the word covetousness
is literally without the love of money. Let your conversation be without
the love of money. Turn back a few pages to 1 Timothy
chapter 6. Verse 3. If any man teach otherwise and
consent not to wholesome words, Even the words of our Lord Jesus
Christ and to the doctrine, which is according to godliness, he's
proud. Knowing nothing, but doting about
questions and strifes of words where have cometh envy, strife,
railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt
minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness. Now, supposing that financial
gain is godliness, indicative of God's blessing, supposing
that some other kind of gain or increase is godliness. What does Paul say about these
people who suppose that gain is godliness? From such withdraw
thyself, but godliness with contentment. is great gain, for we brought
nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing
out. I love that saying with regard
to a very wealthy man. Somebody asked, how much did
he leave? The answer was everything. Everything. Adding verse eight, food and
raiment, let us be there with content." Satisfied. But, they that will be rich,
that's their desire. They that will be rich, that's
what they want. fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish
and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition
for the love of money." Same word. The love of money is the
root of all evil. Which while some coveted after,
there's that word, They have erred from the faith and pierced
themselves through with many sorrows. The love of money, not
money. There's nothing wrong with money. There's nothing wrong
with wealth, but there's something wrong with the love of money. The love of money is fueled by
the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of
life. We think we can get pleasure
out of money. We think we can get prestige and popularity out
of money. We think it represents some kind
of power. Somebody that has a lot of money, what power they have. They don't have any power. Power
belongeth to the Lord, not any man. Covetousness says very clearly, I love money more than I love
God. And I trust money more than I
trust God. Now the writer to the Hebrew
says, let your conversation be without covetousness, without
covening what you do not have. Now a beautiful illustration
of this is faith. When you believe, You know what
you have? Everything. You have Christ. You have all. There's nothing
to covet. The only time you and I are not
going to covet is when there is nothing to covet. You look to him alone, believing
in him. You know you have all because
Christ is all. There's nothing to covet. There's
nothing beyond. Christ is all. If you have all, what is there
to covet? And the next thing he says in
our text is be content with such things as you have. Be content. Be satisfied. with such things as you have. Be content with what you have
materially. You know, the Lord said a man's
life consists not in the abundance of things that he possesses. We just read having food and
raiment, let us be there with content. Now that doesn't mean
if you're offered a raise, turn it down. I'm not saying that
at all. It means live within your means.
I always admire people who are able to live a more affluent
life, but they live conservatively. I just admire that. I like seeing
that. It's very sad when people try
to impress others with their wealth, and it almost seems as
if they need that for their affirmation. Look how much money I have. Be
content with such things as you have. All that being said, this
is not really the main thought here. It's true, everything I've
said's true, but it's not the main thought. He's not talking
about being content with what you have materially, but being
content with what you have spiritually. This is so important. Philippians chapter four. Paul said in verse 11, not that
I speak in respect of want, Philippians 4.11, not that I speak in respect
of want, for I have learned in whatsoever state I am therewith
to be content. I know both how to be abased,
you and I'm abased, Christ is all I have. And I know how to abound. When
I abound, Christ is all I have. Both times. I've learned. God's taught me. Only God can
teach you this. I've learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith
to be content I know both how to be abased. I know how to be
abound everywhere and in all things. I'm instructed both to
be full and to be hungry. Do you hear that? You're full. You're complete in Christ. You
need nothing. You ought to always be hungering
and thirsting after Christ. I know how to abound and to suffer
need I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.
Remember in 2 Corinthians 12 verse 9 when Paul said the Lord
said to him, my grace is sufficient for thee. That word sufficient
is content. Same word. My grace is enough
to make you content, sufficient. Satisfied. I wanna ask you a
question. I wanna ask myself this question.
Am I satisfied? Am I content to be saved by grace
alone? With no contribution from me.
No help from me. No works or experience that I
bring. by the pure, free, sheer grace
of God. My grace is sufficient. It's enough to make you content
and satisfied. There's nothing to covet. I've already said this, but if
you have Christ, you have all, and there's nothing to covet.
Now, let me, by the grace of God, make good on that in the
scripture. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3, 21, for all things are yours. What is there to covet? Colossians 2, 10, you are complete. This is every believer. You are
full. There is nothing that can be
added to you to make your situation better. You are complete in the
Lord Jesus Christ. There's nothing that can be done
to make you more holy, more accepted, more lovely. You right now, present
tense, are complete in him. I'd like you to turn to Ephesians
chapter one Ephesians 1 verse 3, Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed
us with all, all spiritual blessings in heavenly
places in Christ Jesus. He has blessed us with all spiritual
blessings. Now, I can't even say I'm thankful
for material blessings, aren't you? I'm thankful to be able
to pay my bills. I'm thankful to be able to drive
a dependable car. I'm thankful to be able to go
on vacation. I thank the Lord for material blessings. But material blessings are not
necessarily blessings. As a matter of fact, they may
be a curse. It could be that all the money you have makes
you forget God. It could be all the money you
have makes you forget Christ and no longer have any need of
Him. So material blessings, while I'm thankful, I don't want to... be able to pay my bills. You
do too. I want to be comfortable. Don't you love having air conditioning?
Don't you love having hot water? Don't you love having a furnace
in the winter? I mean, I want those things. Somebody says,
I don't want them. I do. Believe me, if I didn't have air conditioning,
I don't know what I'd do. That's a conflict between Lynn
and I all the time. She would just soon keep it hot,
and I'd just soon keep it cold. Spiritual blessings. And he goes
on to name what these spiritual blessings are. Look at this.
This is what you have. According, verse four, as he
has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. Is that
a spiritual blessing? To be chosen of God before the
foundation of the world? What a blessing. For what purpose? That we should
be holy and without blame before Him. What a blessing to be holy
before Him, to be without blame before Him. In love, having predestinated
us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself according
to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of
His grace. Predestination. What a blessing
to be predestinated, to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ,
to be predestinated, to be his child. Wherein he hath made us accepted
in the Beloved. Acceptance in the Beloved. What
a blessing. I'm accepted in the Beloved.
I'm accepted. God accepts me, receives me in
the Beloved. in whom we have redemption through
his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches
of his grace, spiritual blessings. If you go on reading, there's
a bunch more mentioned in these verses. Oh, he has blessed us
with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. What is there to covet? 1 Corinthians 1.30. Of him are
you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom. In Christ, I'm so wise that God
has fellowship with me. You remember that passage of
scripture where he spake to Moses face to face as a man speaks
with his friend? That's every believer. I'm fit
for fellowship with God in Christ. Not only do I have in Christ
wisdom, 1 Corinthians, he's made it as wisdom and righteousness. Absolute righteousness and sanctification,
holiness, and redemption, full deliverance. What is there to covet? You want something more than
that? Can something be added to that to make it better? Turn
with me to 1 John 4. I'd like you to look at this.
I know you're familiar with it, but I hope we're always amazed
by it. 1 John 4, verse 17. Herein is our
love made perfect, that we may have boldness in
the day of judgment, And here's the reason, here's why we can
have boldness on the day of judgment as he is. So are we in this world
right now, present tense. Now, can there be anything added
to him to make him more than he is? Of course not. There's nothing that can be added
to him to make him more blessed. Does he have the complete love,
favor, and approval of his father? Oh, you know he does. Oh, the
father looks at the son. He says, this is my beloved son
in whom I'm well pleased. Oh, he has the favor of his father. Can he get any more lovely to
his father than he is? Can he get any more holy than
he is? as he is, so are we in this world right
now. Now, tell me, what is there to
covet? Let your conversation be without
covetous. Is there any room for covetousness
with such things as you have? Be content with such things as
you have. You know when the Lord said,
he that believeth on me shall never thirst. What does that mean? That means
believing on Christ. I'm not thirsting for anything
else. I'm not coveting anything else. He is sufficient. I need nothing else. You're completely satisfied to
be saved by Christ. I love the song. I need no other
argument. I need no other plea. It is enough
that Jesus died and that he died for me. Anything we covet or even think
we need is an objection to the sufficiency of Christ. You know, when people preach That
most hideous doctrine that Jesus Christ died for all men and some
of the people that he died for may wind up in hell because they
didn't do their part, that's a denial of the sufficiency of
Jesus Christ. When somebody maintains higher
rewards in heaven, based upon their works that's a denial of
the sufficiency of Jesus Christ. When someone preaches progressive
sanctification by that meaning I become more holy by what I
do and less sinful by what I do that's a denial of the sufficiency
of Jesus Christ. Now our conversation being without
covetousness and being content with such things as we have is
not a positive attitude. Although it is. It's very positive,
isn't it? But it is grounded on what he
said. Now go back to our text in Hebrews
chapter 13. Verse five, let your conversation
be without covetousness And be content with such things as you
have all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.
Be content. Be satisfied. Don't be looking
for anything else. Don't be thinking, oh, I need
more. No, you don't. Not if you have him. You're complete. Now, here's why he says to do
this, for he has said. There's our reason for believing
this, he has said. Everything we believe better
have a he hath said before it. Nothing else is to be believed,
only that which he hath said. To the law and to the testimony,
if they speak not according to this word, it's because there's
no light in them. He has said, and this is a quotation
from Deuteronomy 31.6, Be strong and of good courage, fear not,
nor be afraid of them. For the Lord thy God, he it is
that doth go with thee. He will not fail thee nor forsake
thee. Now I was reading a sermon by
Charles Spurgeon on this passage of scripture, and he said there
are five negatives in the original. He has said, I will never, never,
no, never, never, never leave thee nor forsake thee. And I
love that he uses five. Five is the number for grace. Five stones of David, the five
chains of salvation, the multiples of five in the tabernacle, five
represents grace. And the reason he will never
leave us or forsake us is because salvation is by grace. Because Christ cried out, my
God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? It was because all of the
reasons God has to leave me and forsake me were laid on him. And he was forsaken by God, his
father as my substitute. He paid the debt I owed and now
there's absolutely no reason for God to be angry with me. Only pleased. Because of the
work of the Lord Jesus Christ, every believer is justified. Now I hope we understand that
justification doesn't mean God looks at us as not guilty even
though he knows we are. Justification is God sees me
as not guilty because I'm not guilty. Sinless through the work
of the Lord Jesus Christ. He says in verse five, let your
conversation be without covetousness, be content, be satisfied with
such things as you have. For he has said, this is his
promise. I will never leave thee nor forsake
thee so that we may boldly say. The Lord is my helper. I will
not fear what man can do to me. The Lord is my helper. Psalm
118, six says, the Lord is on my side. I will not fear what
can man do to me. And that's what Paul had in mind
when he said, what should we say to these things? If God be
for us, who can be against us? Now, what are the things he's
talking about when he says, what shall we say to these things?
Well, let me quote the previous three verses. And we know that
all things work together for good to them that love God, to
them who are thee called according to his purpose, for whom he did
foreknow. If he's for you and for knowledge,
that means he loved you beforehand. Adam knew his wife Eve. This is talking about love. Whom,
not what, whom he did foreknow. Then he also did predestinate
to be conformed to the image of his son, that he might be
the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate,
then he also called, Lazarus, come forth. He that was dead
came forth. Moreover, whom he called, then
he also justified. and whom he justified, them he
also glorified." It's already done. What should we say to these
things? If God be for us, who can be
against us? We may boldly say, the Lord is
my helper. I will not fear what man can
do unto me. Can a man undo what God has done? No. Can I undo what God has done? No. If God be for us, who can
be against us? He that spared not his own son,
but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the
charge of God's elect? There's nothing that can be laid
to my charge. I've been justified. Christ died for me. Who is he
that can condemn? It's Christ that died, yea rather
that's risen again who's even at the right hand of God. Now
this is why we can boldly say the Lord is my helper. I will
not fear what any man can do to me. That fear of man that's
a snare, it's so stupid. If God be for me, who can be
against me? Now I realize that we walk through
this world in poverty of spirit, mourning over our sin, meek before
God, hungering and thirsting after his righteousness, but
that doesn't take away from the reality of this. Let your conversation,
when you go to bed tonight, when you wake up in the morning, when
you go through your day, let your conversation be without
covetousness. Remember tomorrow, I'm complete
in Christ. There's nothing to covet. And
be content with such things as you have. That's really not talking
about material things. It's talking about what you have
in Christ. Be content with such things as you have. For he has
said, I will never, never, no, never, never, never leave thee.
nor forsake thee, so that we may boldly say, the Lord is my
helper. I will not fear what man can
do unto me. Let's pray. Lord, how we thank you and praise you for what you have given us in
Christ Jesus. Lord, enable us to enter in to
the sufficiency of thy Son. Now, we need nothing else and
that we are complete. Fully saved, fully complete,
perfected forever in him. Lord, enable us to rest in that. And Lord, because of the grace
you give us to believe that, enable us for our conversation
to be without covetousness. and enable us to be content with
such things as we have in your son. Bless this message for your
glory and for our good. In Christ's name we pray, amen.