Title Exodus 20:17
Today's text is the tenth of the Ten Commandments. Unlike the other commandments, what this last commandment forbids is not any action, but covetousness in the heart and mind. The text tells us not to covet another man's wife, male or female slaves, or livestock belonging to another, but I understand that this commandment is to be understood as coveting anything that overflows with fountains and forbidding any thought to obtain them in an unreasonable way. .
Covetousness not only makes one person sick and perishes, but also destroys the family. The story of falling into gambling and ruining it is all too common around us. What is gambling? Isn't it covetousness to get someone else's money by cheating or cheating? Jesus said to the younger brother who wanted to share his brother's inheritance among some brothers, "Beware of all covetousness, for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" (Luke 12:15). Because of money, there are many cases where siblings bite and tear and become enemies for the rest of their lives. Even between the rich and poor, the son beats his father to death while still gossiping, so what can't they do? Covetousness is such a scary thing. Proverbs says, "A greedy man harms his own house" (Proverbs 15:27). Instead, "He who hates greed will live long" (Proverbs 28:16). Everyone, if you want to live a long life, let go of the greed of your heart. Covetousness is the road to death. James said, "But each one is tempted, being drawn away and deceived by his own lust; and lust has conceived and gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death" (James 1:14-15).
How, then, can we more positively understand and actively observe the tenth commandment given in a negative form? First of all, you have to think about why covetousness arises.
Covetousness comes from placing our ultimate concern on riches and not on God. Jesus said, "No man can serve two masters; either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other, for you cannot serve both God and riches" (Matthew 6:24). That's what it means. We cannot serve both God and money. If our attention is on wealth other than God, then we are not interested in God. Wealth is our idol and we have no choice but to become God. The Apostle Paul said, “Covetousness is idolatry” (Colossians 3:6). 1 Corinthians 5:11 says, “Even in the church, do not associate with covetous people, and do not eat with them.” Because it fades quickly. So the best way for us to be more active in keeping the tenth commandment is to turn our attention to God. Not only to avoid coveting other people's things, but to make sure that the kingdom of God and its righteousness are our main and ultimate concerns, so that riches do not become our idols, in order not to covet others, it is really keeping the 10th commandment well. is.
The Bible tells us that when the kingdom of God and its righteousness are not our main and ultimate concerns, and the world's wealth, power, honor, and pleasure become our subjective judgements, that is, if we prefer to live in friendship with this world, we Teach them to be enemies. “Whoever wishes to be friends with the world is himself an enemy of God.” This is James 4:4. There is no more terrifying calamity than our enmity with God. So James immediately went on to say, “Draw near to God” (James 4:8). When you draw near to God, you are far from greed. Those who still have covetousness are not truly close to God. Therefore, drawing close to God is the way to actively keep the 10th commandment. It's not just about not coveting others, it's about getting closer to God.
Another cause of covetousness is anxiety. In other words, the thought that my life would always be guaranteed only if I had a lot of money, and that I had to accumulate wealth to secure my own life knowing that there was no one to take care of me, I believe that I was constantly greedy. But we must keep in mind what Jesus said, "A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." And cast all your worries on God. That will be the way to keep the 10th commandment right. Jesus said, "Could you have made you one cubit taller by being anxious?" He asked, "Do not worry about what you will eat or drink or wear." Cast all your anxieties on God and seek only the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Then he promised to add all of them to you.