Thesis
Drawing from the story of Achan in Joshua 7, Pastor Bill traces coveting as the root sin behind nearly every way we disregard God. Coveting — the same act that caused Satan's fall — leads us through a predictable progression: comparison, conflict, and consumption. God takes this seriously because He loves us enough to warn us that chasing what isn't ours will ultimately destroy us. The answer is to choose trust over lust: giving God the first fruits of our time, money, and gifts, rejoicing in what we have, releasing generously to others, and refocusing on what is eternal rather than temporary.
Key points
- 1
Coveting is the devil's number one play — it is what caused his fall and what he uses to instigate our sin.
- 2
God takes coveting — especially stealing His glory by refusing to trust Him with first fruits — with deadly seriousness, as shown in the story of Achan.
- 3
Coveting progresses in three stages: comparison (I saw), conflict (I wanted), and being consumed (I hid).
- 4
Sins of omission — failing to serve, give, and share faith when you know you should — are just as real as sins of commission.
- 5
The antidote to coveting is learning contentment in Christ, not in circumstances.
- 6
God promises to transform the valley of trouble into a gateway of hope for those who trust Him.
Outline
Introduction: The Witch Doctors of Malawi
Pastor Bill frames the sermon with a story from Malawi about witch doctors who use intimidation and fear — just as the devil does. The key insight: if you plant your feet, he will flee.
The Big Idea: Choose Trust, Not Lust
Pastor Bill introduces the tenth commandment on coveting and explains that coveting is not just about things — it is the core sin that caused Satan's fall and drives nearly every act of disobedience.
The Story of Achan: How Serious God Takes Coveting
Through Joshua 7, Pastor Bill shows how Achan's coveting of the devoted plunder — taking what belonged to God — led to Israel's defeat at Ai and ultimately to Achan's death in the Valley of Trouble.
The Three Stages of Coveting
Pastor Bill traces the progression from comparison (I saw) to conflict (I wanted) to consumption (I hid), showing how coveting is usually masked in feelings of fairness and need.
Sins of Omission and the Fish Illustration
Using James 4:17, Pastor Bill argues that failing to give first fruits, serve with spiritual gifts, and share faith are genuine sins, not optional extras. A fish ramming against its tank illustrates the futility of chasing the next thing.
Breaking the Aching: Four Responses
Pastor Bill offers four practical responses: resist comparing yourself to others, rejoice for others and want what you have, release what you have to help others, and refocus on what is eternal.
Paul's Contentment and the Hope of Hosea
Philippians 4 in The Message shows Paul's recipe for contentment is Christ Himself. Hosea 2 promises that God will transform the valley of trouble into a gateway of hope for those who trust Him.
The Hank Aaron Card: Closing Illustration and Call
A childhood trade of a 1954 Hank Aaron rookie card for a plastic Star Trek toy illustrates the sermon's core point: we keep trading eternal things for cheap substitutes that only have the value we pretend they have.
Memorable moments
choose trust not lust, because that's what coveting is
we tend to make one of two mistakes with the devil. We underestimate how smart and cunning and how good of an instigator he is, or we act like he's not even real
Remember, it's a sin to know what you ought to do and then don't do it
I will transform the valley of trouble into a gateway of hope
the key is stop wanting the wrong thing. Stop coveting. Stop taking what's not yours
you are playing a silly game, playing with a plastic little toy, pretending those things you want and need are actually doing what you think they're gonna do and you're only playing
Application
Pastor Bill calls everyone — himself included — to an honest inventory of where we are lusting instead of trusting. Practically, that means stopping the comparison game (looking around instead of up), genuinely rejoicing for others and learning to want what we already have, releasing the first fruits of our time and money to God before we see how the budget works out, and keeping our eyes fixed on what is eternal rather than the temporary things we are tempted to hoard. The promise is real: when we stop playing Achan's game and trust God with what is His, He leads us out of the valley of trouble and into a gateway of hope.
