The Tenth Commandment

The Tenth Commandment “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Exodus 20:17 Of all the commandments, the tenth refers most specifically to man’s relation to man. Throughout our lives we are rushing to make more money. We are in a hurry to have a good time, to get everything we can out of life. On every front we are taught to compete and compare ourselves with our neighbors in every regard, thus the phrase “keeping up with the Joneses'. Jesus warns us in Luke 12:15, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Your real happiness and success in life cannot truly be measured by how new or powerful a car you drive, the kind of home you live in, the clothes you wear, the job you have and the titles behind your name, or even the food you eat. The love, joy and peace that Jesus exemplified came from giving and serving—not from any material thing Jesus was able to get. When you begin to covet your neighbor's money, possessions, and all their material wealth, you are breaking God's command.. In such a situation, you have neither time nor energy to really study the Bible, or to spend in earnest prayer to God. Covetousness is a terrible thing—for it cuts you off from your fellowship with God, and the blessings He could shower you with, but most of all if distances you from the love of God. God wants you to serve Him and devote your time, energy and talents to do His will; but if your primary goal in life is to acquire material wealth like your neighbor, your focus will be on worldly things, and your own personal wants and desires, and not on Him. Thank God for all the blessings He gives your neighbors, and you will be blessed.