A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture of The Day
July 27, 2021
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)
By Ed Henderson (2019)
It is amazing to me how relevant God’s Ten Commandments are in our world today. I think most of the world looks at the Ten Commandments as old fashioned, and out of date, but they surely are not. Covetousness is defined by the dictionary as when someone ardently desires something someone else has. The “You shall not covet” commandment is the tenth commandment so by that you could get the impression that it is the least important of all the commandments. You would be wrong about that because it actually is the root cause of several of the other previous commandments. The sixth through the eighth commandments include the following: You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; and You shall not steal. Covetousness is the major root cause of violating all these commandments.
Let’s look at what the New Testament has to say about this matter: Let your conversation (style, deportment, character) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. (Hebrews 13:5-6) Does this mean we are not to be ambitious? Does this mean we should not work hard and continuously pursue ways to improve our family’s living conditions and financial situation? Absolutely not!!! But godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6) The scripture also says in 3 John 2: Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Deuteronomy 8:17-18 says: “And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore unto thy fathers, as it is this day”. The big question is “Who is your source???” Personally, this is the attitude I think we should have: I don’t want anybody else’s spouse; I don’t want anybody else’s stuff; and I don’t want anybody else’s money. My Father owns all the gold and silver and all the cattle on a thousand hills. My Father is rich so that makes me rich (as His son) and He shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19) We live in a world that is exhibiting a higher and higher degree of discontentment. They look at other people, other nations, and certain political systems, and they want what others have and their answer to that many times is to steal it or take it by force. That force may be by physical or political force. What they fail to understand is that true prosperity is available to them through Jesus Christ. He is the answer. He is the source of true contentment, peace, and prosperity, regardless of whether you have a little or have a lot. When you have JESUS, you have it all, and He will never leave you or forsake you. That other stuff has wings and will fly away.
