Coveting Hurts You

Last updated on: October 25, 2019 at 7:00 am by Mark Driscoll

Coveting Hurts You 2019-08-29T16:28:30-04:00 Mark Driscoll

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Luke 12:15 – And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Acts 20:35 – In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Why does it matter if our car was made in Korea or Germany? Why do people fret over the latest generation of technology when the old one does pretty much the same thing for a third of the price?

Consumerism has become a religion. It’s how we gain social status and prestige in the eyes of others. Malls are churches. The problem is not in the stuff that we hold but in the stuff that holds us. The issue is not in our hands but in our hearts.

There’s a little line with big implications tucked away in Acts 20:35. It is the only place in the Bible you can find the “words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

The truth is that giving is the blessing. God is the most generous person and is, therefore, the most blessed. The apostle Paul describes a giver as cheerful because when we give, we are blessed to share in God’s joy. Out of love God “gave his only Son.” Giving is love in action.

Coveting also leads to bad stewardship, where we spend more than we should to give to ourselves rather than also giving to God and others, which contributes to our debt. For these reasons, coveting is not just a personal problem. Coveting ruins relationship with people we could be loving if we were not so consumed with coveting.

To order the new book from Pastor Mark & Grace Driscoll “Win Your War”, visit: https://amzn.to/2YuhoDn.

For the entire eight-week “Win Your War” sermon series from Pastor Mark, visit www.markdriscoll.org or the Mark Driscoll Ministries app.

Daily Devotions

Previous Post

October 24, 2019

Coveting Hurts Relationships

Next Post

October 28, 2019 Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Ask Pastor Mark Blog Daily Devotions Sermons Uncategorized

Select a Month July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 October 2018 September 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 December 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What was the rider of the Red Horse in Revelation given?

Select your answer to see how you score.

A bow A crown A balance scale A large sword