10

I Seek Higher Things

"thou shalt not covet" Ex. 20:17

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Four
Five
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Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten

Conclusion

If men and mankind were capable of keeping the tenth commandment there would be no more wars or fences, locks, or prisons. Nation would no longer rise up against nation. Our doors could be left unlocked when we left our homes, and we could be assured that nothing would have been molested stolen or disturbed when we came home. Likewise our positions would be as safe as our possessions and no one would be seeking to unseat us from our station, or undermine us on their way to the top. If man was capable of keeping this last commandment no man need fear for his life or for that of his loved ones. But, alas, this above all other commandants, proves that no man is without sin.

The Apostle Paul found it impossible for his conscience to "out run" this final command brought down from Mt. Sinai. While he could pretend to somehow achieve an acceptable standard of worship, and avoid violations of the other commandments such as stealing, and killing, he could not keep this law. While other commandments are committed "without" this one is committed "within." We need never lift a finger and take what does not belong to us, we may never trespass onto another's property and yet we can hardly get though the day without brushing up against this fragile commandment and doing it violence. When Paul said "I had not known sin except for this commandment" (Rom. 7:7) what he meant was that to sinful human nature covetousness comes naturally.

When we look at others we often compare and quickly calculate another's success, and if we are not careful, find ourselves sinning with a "sigh." We have to walk, but the rich man is carried by slaves on a liter. We eat gruel while another enjoys a banquet. All the while we are likely, if not careful, to pass judgment upon those who "have" just because we "have not."

A man would rather confess to breaking all the nine other commandments than to confess to breaking this one, especially when it ripens and turns green with envy. To admit to covetousness is to admit to a glaring weakness, lack, and deficiency in our own lives. To admit to covetousness is akin to pronouncing ourselves inferior to the person we envy.

Jesus dealt with the subtlety of this most secret sin, when he explained that hating a man enough to "kill" him was as good as doing so though not a single shot is fired. His commentary on those civil commandments should not have startled the disciples, for the spirit of such a sterling standard was found all along in the tenth commandment. Any honest penitent must realize that he has broken it a thousand times.

Covetousness is the dark shadow of an enthroned "self" who sits as the centerpiece of our sinful universe. Selfishness is an evil usurper of the throne that rightfully belongs to God. Self is a despot that has a lust for the things of the world that cannot ever be satisfied.

Covetousness simply means "desire." It is no sin in and of itself. The theological meaning is that of desiring what does not, or should not belong to us. Desire, like a fire, can be useful when it is controlled and made to serve good. But when desire or fire jumps from the fireplace the whole house can be burned to the ground. Uncontrolled desire has destroyed homes, health, body, mind and spirit.

Jesus touched this most subtle of sins when he began his ministry and launched his mission on the earth. "If any will come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me." To deny self means to say "no" to self when it foolishly asks for things that it should not have.

The opposite of covetousness and the antidote for such a spiritual poison is found only in God's grace: contentment. "Godliness, with contentment is great gain." "Love not the world, neither the things of the world, for all that is of the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world. The world passeth away,and the lust thereof, but he that doeth the will of the Father abideth forever."

The tenth conviction of the Christian life is that of contentment and satisfaction. It is a spirit that cannot be enticed by the temptation for temporal things. It is a heart that yields to the laws of providence. It is a spirit that can march through the city of Ai and leave all the spoils to rot in the streets rather than disobey the General's command. Should God give, then the hand humbly receives, but unless something is as obvious as a Christmas package, beribboned, and clearly addressed us personally, we should have no desire for it if it belongs to another.

When we desire what belongs to our neighbor, we degrade him in our heart. When we covet, we invite a brood of vipers to make a nest in our soul. When we covet we insult God and insinuate that He is not supplying for our needs.

Is there any way to avoid this sin of the heart? Is there some way we can keep these rats from making a nest in our basement? Is there any way we can keep our eyes from drinking in all the display and showiness of vanity fair and this world of materialism? "Seek those things which are above, and not those things on the earth," said the Apostle (Col. 3:1). It is the best and only advice. A stomach that is full desires nothing. Hunger and thirst after righteousness and desire only those things that are eternal.

Ahab coveted Naboth's vineyard and it led to insomnia, insanity, and at last infamy. This evil king would not rest until he had what belonged to another. The fact that he was willing to pay, and could still not entice, poor Nabel to sell made him all the more adamant and miserable. At last he would spill innocent blood and he himself would become an infernal parable about the folly of covetousness.

Don't be fooled by things which moth, and rust doth corrupt and for which things thieves break through and steal ( Mat. 6:19-21). Desire only the things that last, the things that are eternal. If your heart is in heaven, it is not easily drawn away by temporal things or the deceitfulness of riches.