PowerPoint - Mar. 26, 2008

March 26, 2008

“You shall not steal.”

--Exodus 20:15

At one point or another, every person has compromised their integrity by stealing from God, others, or themselves. And at the top of the list of reasons why people succumb to this temptation is discontent.

Our materialistic culture is always preaching that we should have more, more, more! And so many people have bought into the lie that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence… even Christians.

If that is you today, let me challenge you to pray against that mentality in your life!

Paul said in Philippians 4:11 that he learned to be content in any situation. If a spiritual giant like Paul had to learn it, so do you and I! 

Of course, it’s not easy to be content when all you do is think about what you don’t have, what kind of car you don’t drive, or how big a house you don’t live in! It’s all a matter of thanking God for what you do have, and being responsible with what He has entrusted to you.

Another reason why I think people fall into the temptation to compromise their integrity is simply this: Each of us is a little bit selfish, and many people have an inflated sense of entitlement. 

If you ever find yourself thinking, “I deserve this,” or “I earned this,” I want to warn you to be careful. In today’s culture, it’s so easy to fall into this trap and end up compromising your integrity!

Stealing takes all kinds of styles, shapes, and colors. So it’s easy to deceive yourself.

That’s why I hope you will open your heart to the Lord today and honestly pray Psalm 139:23-24, which says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

BEING CONTENT STARTS WITH THANKING GOD FOR WHAT YOU HAVE AND BEING RESPONSIBLE WITH WHAT HE’S ENTRUSTED TO YOU.