Exodus 20:17

“…“…repeated exposure to idealized imagesrepeated exposure to idealized imagesraises consumers’ expectations and influencesraises consumers’ expectations and influences

their perceptions of how their lives oughttheir perceptions of how their lives ought to be…The result of both these processes,to be…The result of both these processes,

for some consumers, is discontent andfor some consumers, is discontent andan increased desire for more.”an increased desire for more.”

FromFrom “Social Comparison, Advertising, “Social Comparison, Advertising, and Consumer Discontent”and Consumer Discontent”

““As an advertiser, it is your job to As an advertiser, it is your job to create discontentment inside the psychecreate discontentment inside the psycheof your prospects, and make them desireof your prospects, and make them desire

the change that you’re offering.” the change that you’re offering.” From “From “How to Motivate Your Prospects”How to Motivate Your Prospects”

““Because producers covet consumers’ money, they Because producers covet consumers’ money, they need to get consumers to covet their goods. Social need to get consumers to covet their goods. Social historians note a change in American advertising historians note a change in American advertising

after World War I, from conveying product after World War I, from conveying product information to manufacturing desire. The public, information to manufacturing desire. The public,

business people feared, was too frugal. To rev up the business people feared, was too frugal. To rev up the economy, products were associated with images, economy, products were associated with images,

glamour, [and] personal identity. Marketing moved glamour, [and] personal identity. Marketing moved from fulfilling needs to creating them.”from fulfilling needs to creating them.”

““For I would not have known what coveting For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, ‘Do not covet.’really was if the law had not said, ‘Do not covet.’

But sin, seizing the opportunity affordedBut sin, seizing the opportunity affordedby the commandment, produced in meby the commandment, produced in me

every kind of covetous desire.”every kind of covetous desire.”Romans 7:7-8Romans 7:7-8

““You desire and do not have, so you murder. You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain,You covet and cannot obtain,

so you fight and quarrel.”so you fight and quarrel.”James 4:2James 4:2

 

““Positively, it simply means aPositively, it simply means a “ “strong desire” or “to delight.” strong desire” or “to delight.”

Negatively as in, “An excessively strong desire to Negatively as in, “An excessively strong desire to have something that belongs to someone else.”have something that belongs to someone else.”

 

……to “grasp for more; an inordinate, to “grasp for more; an inordinate, ungoverned, selfish desire.” ungoverned, selfish desire.”

……to “desire wrongfully…or withoutto “desire wrongfully…or withoutdue regard for the rights of others.”due regard for the rights of others.”

 

““An overt dissatisfaction and discontentAn overt dissatisfaction and discontent

with what God has provided and a longingwith what God has provided and a longingdesire for what He has forbidden to us.”desire for what He has forbidden to us.”

 

““Take care, and be on your guard againstTake care, and be on your guard againstall covetousness, for one’s life does notall covetousness, for one’s life does not

consist in the abundance of his possessions.”consist in the abundance of his possessions.”Luke 12:15 (ESV)Luke 12:15 (ESV)

““We in America have had more materially and We in America have had more materially and have had more wealth than all the rest of the have had more wealth than all the rest of the

world and yet it has not made us more world and yet it has not made us more contented, but only more covetous.”contented, but only more covetous.”

1.1. When you do a lot of grumbling and complaining.When you do a lot of grumbling and complaining.(1 Corinthians 10:10) (1 Corinthians 10:10)

2.2. When you become jealous and envious of what others When you become jealous and envious of what others have. have. (2 Corinthians 12:20)(2 Corinthians 12:20)

3.3. When you’re filled with anxiety and fear.When you’re filled with anxiety and fear.(Philippians 4:6-7)(Philippians 4:6-7)

4.4. When you have a preoccupation with your possessions.When you have a preoccupation with your possessions. (Luke 12:16-21)(Luke 12:16-21)

5.5. When you become stingy with what God has given you. When you become stingy with what God has given you. (Proverbs 28:22)(Proverbs 28:22)

6.6. When God is getting your leftovers. When God is getting your leftovers. (Malachi 1:6-14)(Malachi 1:6-14)

7.7. When we love things and use people rather than using When we love things and use people rather than using things and loving people. things and loving people. (Romans 13:8-10)(Romans 13:8-10)

““Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil

desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.” Colossians 3:5Colossians 3:5

  

BEING CONFIDENT THAT GOD IS IN BEING CONFIDENT THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL CONTROL

v. 10: “I rejoice greatly in the Lord…”v. 10: “I rejoice greatly in the Lord…”

  

Psalm 23:1 Psalm 23:1 ““The LORD is my shepherd;The LORD is my shepherd;

I shall not be in want.”I shall not be in want.”   

DEVELOPING A PROPER EXPECTATION OF DEVELOPING A PROPER EXPECTATION OF

OTHERS OTHERS

v. 10: “…that at last you have renewedv. 10: “…that at last you have renewedyour concern for me. Indeed, you haveyour concern for me. Indeed, you have

been concerned, but you had been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.”no opportunity to show it.”

  

LEARNING TO BE SATISFIED IN EVERY LEARNING TO BE SATISFIED IN EVERY

SITUATION SITUATION

v.11-12: “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I v.11-12: “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I

know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in

any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”whether living in plenty or in want.”

 

BE SATISFIED WITH YOUR SALARYBE SATISFIED WITH YOUR SALARY

Luke 3:14Luke 3:14 “ “Be content with your pay.”Be content with your pay.”

 

BE THANKFUL FOR THE BASICS OF BE THANKFUL FOR THE BASICS OF

LIFE LIFE

““But if we have food and clothing, But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.”we will be content with that.”

1 Timothy 6:81 Timothy 6:8  

WANT WHAT YOU HAVE, EVEN IF WANT WHAT YOU HAVE, EVEN IF

YOUYOUDON’T HAVE EVERYTHING YOU DON’T HAVE EVERYTHING YOU

WANT. WANT.

““Keep your lives free from the love of money and be Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”

Hebrews 13:5Hebrews 13:5 

TO GROW IN GODLINESSTO GROW IN GODLINESS

YOU MUST BECOME CONTENTYOU MUST BECOME CONTENT

““But godliness with contentment is great gain.”But godliness with contentment is great gain.”1 Timothy 6:61 Timothy 6:6

FINDING STRENGTH IN CHRIST

“I can do everything throughHim who gives me strength.”

Philippians 4:13