Commandment # 10 Thou Shalt Not Covet

Thoughts:

The first and last commandments are about heart/head attitude.  You shall have no other Gods before me.  You shall not covet. It all begins with our attitude.

There are two different ways of looking at this. One says “I want to take away what you have and have it for my own”, a man’s wife, for example.  As Paul says, RO 13:9 The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

The other way of looking at this says,  “I want what you have too.  Why should you have that when I don’t?”  We will not feel this way if you love God with all our hearts. It would mean we are not content with what God has done for and given us. It means we do not believe God knows what is best for us

          1.Envying material things, including looks, intelligence, money, fame,

              power, things, stuff. means we are focusing on this world instead of

              God’s kingdom.


    MT 6:28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

2. Envying emotional gifts, spiritual gifts, and/or ministries means, again one is not content with what has done for and given him/her.  As an example, many people envy people with family near by, or parents who are loving, or grandchildren, or children who haven’t gone astray.  To envy in such circumstances means we are not remembering all God HAS done for us, and be filled with gratitude for that which we have, rather than mourn that which we lack. In so far as ministry, God knows exactly for what we are ready and where we can best use the gifts He has given us to bring others to faith and bring Him glory.