Exodus 20:17 (ESV)
“You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”
This commandment goes a step beyond the others and governs feelings, not just actions. This cuts to the heart of sin. Obey this commandment and most of the others fall into place. It’s curious that this one comes last; it seems so central.
For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. — Matthew 15:19 (ESV)
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. — Matthew 5:21–22 (ESV)
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. — Matthew 5:27–28 (ESV)
Early in the 21st century, there was a movement in America that was openly based on covetousness—Occupy Wall Street. The “protestors” resented what they called “the [richest] one-percent.” They didn’t care how you got rich—you could be a baseball star, a doctor, or Oprah Winfrey. If you were rich, you were hated.
And, guess what? Occupy Wall Street had a huge crime problem.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupy_Wall_Street (scroll down to Security)
Anyone who knew diddly about the Bible saw that one coming.
Coveting is universal in America. We are competitive in an unhealthy way. We call it “keeping up with the Joneses” but this sugar-coats what it really is. It’s violating the tenth commandment.
We’re all guilty of this. America is saturated with covetousness. In my neighborhood, even the Christmas lights are a competition.
Ask God to help rid us of covetousness. Also, we need to be more open about this and more willing to challenge our brothers and sisters; this is easier to see in others than in ourselves.
And it’s easy to miss how important this is. We forget that this is one of the big ten.
In practice, no other commandment is so ignored.
To forward this devotional, see the link in green below.
These weekday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. Saturdays' by Matt Richardson. Subscribe here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/community
The weekly study guides, which include questions for discussion or meditation, are here: https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies
Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NASB stands for the New American Standard Bible. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.
