The Tenth Commandment: Beware of Dangerous Thoughts Oct. 16, 2015
IT IS THE ONLY COMMANDMENT THAT IS ONE HUNDRED PERCENT AGAINST THOUGHTS
God’s commands are to help live an abundant and happy life. Some thoughts undermine this happiness. Some thoughts we should never have. Violation of this commandment is the fountain from which almost all other evils against others spring. Excessive desires for what others have brings on murders, thievery and perjury to cover the crimes. Evil thoughts generate sinful, hurtful behavior. See Mark 7:20-23.
We need to understand what coveting means and does not mean. Coveting is much more than wanting something. The Hebrew verb, lachmod meant to want to the point of seeking to take it away from the owner. It is an excessive desire to take away from others. Uncontrolled envy and lust can and often do lead to bad actions.
It is not wrong to desire good things. If your neighbor has a nice car you can desire to have one as well. It would be a normal and possibly helpful desire if you went about it honestIy: deciding to work hard and save money, build up credit and eventually earn what was desired honestly. This would be constructive ambition. Destructive ambition and thinking is forbidden by the tenth commandment.
THE TENTH COMMANDMENT IS ALL ABOUT CONTENTMENT
TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS COMES FROM THE HEART. How should we think to avoid the dangers that proceed from human nature? Coveting can also include not just wanting what others have but also wanting far more than we would legitimately deserve or that would be our rightful share.
The opposite of coveting is a positive desire to help others. We should rejoice when others are blessed. We should resist the selfish side of human nature. The selfish approach is the essence of sinful actions. Paul, teaches us to be humble not self-serving and to think of others first. See Phil 2:2-4. Paul furthers instructs us to learn to be like him; contented in all situations. Learn to be content with or without nice things and plenty. See Phil 4:10-13. Paul could rejoice whether he abounded or was abased. His Christian’s character is in control, not materialism or things or money but he has spiritual depth. See also James 1:14-16, 4:1-2.
MATERIALISM A UNIVERSAL PLAGUE
People have murdered for expensive trendy tennis shoes or cameras as unbelievable as that may seem. See IITim 3:1-6. These verses predict a frightening time in the future. People will be violently hedonistic and will do anything for material things and thrills. VERSE 2 SAYS “ FOR MEN WILL BE LOVERS OF THEMSELVES , LOVERS OF MONEY , BOASTFUL , ARROGANT , EVILERS , DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, UNGRATEFUL, UNHOLY (3) UNLOVING, IRRECONCONCILABLE, MALICIOUS GOSSIPS, WTHOUT SELF-CONTROL, HATERS OF GOOD, (4) TREACHEROUS , RECKLESS, CONCEITED, LOVERS OF PLEASURE RATHER THAN LOVERS OF GOD. These dark days are gaining on us every year. A newer generation with less and less care for the elderly or others is growing and being fed by big media and big music with these feelings and other dangerous concepts. This happened to Israel before its fall. See Jer 6:13.
COVETOUSNESS IS ALSO IDOLATRY
Paul says to put to death those things in our human nature that cause trouble like idolatry and that covetousness is idolatry. Because of these evil things God is bringing wrath to mankind. See Col 3:5-6. Further see Eph 5:5. We need to combat covetousness. See Luke 12:15. If we have trust that God will provide for us we can have less worry about material things and focus on Gods righteousness. This will help us fight covetousness. LEARN TO TRUST GOD for our material survival! Christ in Matthew states that we need to be concerned with treasures in heaven not on earth. Banks in Greece already are holding captive portions of the population’s accounts. It could happen anywhere in a future financial crisis. Put our trust in God. Put our focus on learning to be more like God. See Matt 6:20-33. Paul adds that it is better to give than to receive. See Acts 20:33-35. We need to learn to work and do well and to share and not be a TAKER. We must replace covetousness with service and love for others.
