CD - The Ninth & Tenth Commandments - 1 Kings 21:1-16, 2 Samuel 11:2-4, Luke 12:13-21, Acts 4:1-11

Let us take a look at both the ninth and tenth commandments and talk about them together. They both deal with covetousness; that is, the evil wishing to have something that belongs to someone else. Wishing to have something is not in itself wrong, as long as we also wish to work to obtain whatever it is we wish to have. It is when that wishing becomes an obsession of wanting to take from our neighbor, this wishing is definitely sin.

These commandments, like several before, have at the heart the intent of the person causing them to sin. In other words, the sin of covetousness begins in the heart and is carried out by the person’s actual actions. The sin begins by our not being satisfied with what we have, but instead in our want of more. This want of more nags at us so that we begin planning and plotting to get our desires, until the time comes that we actually obtain this want by legal or illegal means. The desire of the heart becomes reality.

I got carried away looking for Bible references, but if you scan the four listed (two from the Old, two from the New Testaments), you notice that no one is exempt from sinning. Ahab’s sin began in his heart as the desire to have Naboth’s vineyard. His sin eventually led to murder. David’s sin of lust led to adultery, which he had already committed in his heart. Also, his sin led to murder. The sick man’s sin of desiring more led to his damnation in hell. Anaania’s and Sapphira’s sin of deception led also to their own destruction.

The pattern in Scripture is the pattern for today. People desire power, riches, glory, etc. People covet these things in their hearts, and the process of sin is begun. In their drive for the top, the end seems to justify the means. In other words, that position at the top is so important that we are willing to do anything for it, gain it by any means. Just look at the business world, and you can see how this commandment is abused. Just watch any soap opera, and you can see how abusing this commandment makes such good “dirt” for these soaps.

So, how do we keep from coveting? We first get right with God. That is, set our priorities straight. We realistically see what we need for life and what we can afford. We are also happy for what our neighbor has and can afford, which is most difficult. In all things, whether rich or poor, with the Lord’s help, we are content.

Heavenly Father, Giver of all good things, I thank and praise You for all the many blessings which You have, in Your Grace, bestowed on me. Forgive me when I forget all the blessings that I do have and instead seek to get what belongs to others. Help me to be content in all things as well as to rejoice in the blessings of others. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.