We are all familiar with the Commandments, at least, we SHOULD all be familiar with the Ten Commandments. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. There is one, however, that is hardly ever mentioned. This, the Tenth Commandment, is more often ignored than not, and few people even know what it means. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour's. (Exodus 20:17)
Let us put this in today's vernacular. Thou shall not desire your neighbor's wife(husband) nor his house, nor his servants, his Mercedes Benz, nor his Rolex, nor his job or position. This sin is especially destructive in that the desire leads to other sins: adultery, theft, murder, and bearing false witness. Covetousness boiled down is lust: lust for the flesh that takes shape in the acts of adultery and fornication. A lust for material things which leads to a lust for power, for position, and for prestige.
Let us put this in today's vernacular. Thou shall not desire your neighbor's wife(husband) nor his house, nor his servants, his Mercedes Benz, nor his Rolex, nor his job or position. This sin is especially destructive in that the desire leads to other sins: adultery, theft, murder, and bearing false witness. Covetousness boiled down is lust: lust for the flesh that takes shape in the acts of adultery and fornication. A lust for material things which leads to a lust for power, for position, and for prestige.
The following are some comments by my proofreader and editor Karen Pearcey regarding what was mentioned above.
The specific words here are 'your neighbor's' -- wanting something LIKE what your neighbor has is not wrong. 'Keeping up with the Jones' family' was not expressly prohibited. What WAS prohibited was the notion that 'might makes right' and I am entitled to TAKE what belongs to someone else just because I am who I am ... this arrogance of self is what the commandment prohibits. To see ourselves as above and beyond the law. David's abuse of power when he takes Bathsheba from her husband. The Pharisees' attacks on Jesus because they want the charismatic abilities He has over the multitudes. Saul's visit to the witches because he wants to return to power as King of Israel and discredit David's lawful and God-ordained claim to the throne. Eve who wanted the knowledge she knew that God alone possesses, and was persuaded to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The list of offenders is Biblically long. Wanting EXACTLY what someone else has been given, and having the desire to TAKE that specific gift away from someone else is an act of supreme arrogance and ego, in defiance of a God who gives all good gifts.)Desire itself is not wrong. We are all better people when we set a goal, work hard to accomplish that goal, and then finally receive a reward. God rewards the diligent. Where the error of our ways comes into play is how we do, or what we do, in order to get what we want. Covetousness
is the desires which become obsessions, making us willing to do whatever it takes to win. The fault lies in compromising principles, going along with the consensus because that is the popular thing to do.
In the business world, how often have we seen where the "dog eats dog" cliche is both acceptable and expected? Ambition, the lust for money and power, does not count how many people must one trample on to get to the top. We can see this condition today in the world of politics, when politicians or political parties will do anything to gain power. The ambitious will resort to "spin", which is our sanitized word for lying or misrepresenting the truth, character assasination, making false accusations, and deliberately trying to destroy another's credibility by any means possible. The liberal left in this country are known for this underhanded kind of political strategy, and we can see a new incident virtually every day on display in our country.
The commentators on the evening political talk shows would rather be amused by how certain politicians will attempt to spin their way out of situations, rather than have the moral and social conscience to confront these politicians and demand that they speak the truth. Our own President Bush has had to endure insults, slander, accusations, and allegations on a level that no other president has had to endure. The Hand of God has been upon this man, quite obviously, and our prayers have put a hedge of protection around him, that no weapon formed against him shall prosper.
is the desires which become obsessions, making us willing to do whatever it takes to win. The fault lies in compromising principles, going along with the consensus because that is the popular thing to do.
In the business world, how often have we seen where the "dog eats dog" cliche is both acceptable and expected? Ambition, the lust for money and power, does not count how many people must one trample on to get to the top. We can see this condition today in the world of politics, when politicians or political parties will do anything to gain power. The ambitious will resort to "spin", which is our sanitized word for lying or misrepresenting the truth, character assasination, making false accusations, and deliberately trying to destroy another's credibility by any means possible. The liberal left in this country are known for this underhanded kind of political strategy, and we can see a new incident virtually every day on display in our country.
The commentators on the evening political talk shows would rather be amused by how certain politicians will attempt to spin their way out of situations, rather than have the moral and social conscience to confront these politicians and demand that they speak the truth. Our own President Bush has had to endure insults, slander, accusations, and allegations on a level that no other president has had to endure. The Hand of God has been upon this man, quite obviously, and our prayers have put a hedge of protection around him, that no weapon formed against him shall prosper.
Closer to home, while covering the News for WSB-TV in Atlanta, I once did a story on a student who was beaten up on his way to school, and the culprits stole the child's "Air Jordan" athletic shoes. Covetness leads to greed, jealousy, envy, theft, and eventually, murder. No other sin affects others on a personal basis in the same way that covetousness spills over from our lives into the lives of others. One scenario played out daily on school campuses around the country involves class envy and jealousy. Fights and confrontations break out between students, the 'have nots' pick fights with the 'haves' -- each defined basically by the latest fashionable styles of clothing. Those 'in style' look down on those who 'aren't', and those that 'aren't' despise those who 'are'. The only viable solution? A growing number of school systems have adopted the policy of uniforms for everyone.
Godly desire is necessary for us to be effective human beings. Afterall desire is what motivates us. Without desire, very little of any worth would be accomplished. While we are in pursuit of our dreams, we are to be content at where we are. Contentment is the opposite of Covetousness. The Apostle Paul said to the Phillipians, not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content. Phil. 4:11
In our quest to aquire things we soon find ourselves with an abundance excess baggage which does little or nothing to reach even the threshold of contentment, but only fuels our desire to aquire more. Our quest for success becomes a question of where we place our priorities.
(Karen's note: I am reminded here of George Carlin's routine about "stuff" -- that we live all our lives consumed with acquiring "stuff" and places to put our "stuff". The more "stuff" we acquire, the bigger the places we need to keep our "stuff", until -- like the man in Scripture who said, "I have all I need. Tomorrow I will tear down my barns to build bigger barns" -- we eventually leave our "stuff" to others for whom it may have little or no value.)
As our Lord so aptly summarized in Mathew 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?
Karen Pearcey contributed to this article. Thanks Karen.(Karen's note: I am reminded here of George Carlin's routine about "stuff" -- that we live all our lives consumed with acquiring "stuff" and places to put our "stuff". The more "stuff" we acquire, the bigger the places we need to keep our "stuff", until -- like the man in Scripture who said, "I have all I need. Tomorrow I will tear down my barns to build bigger barns" -- we eventually leave our "stuff" to others for whom it may have little or no value.)
As our Lord so aptly summarized in Mathew 16:26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?
No comments:
Post a Comment