2001-10-20 - Passages About Coveting

Passages About the Ten Commandments, Part 9

American culture (as well as some others) encourages coveting. Advertisements, movies, books and television shows shout at us to buy a more powerful computer, a better-equipped truck, subscribe to a faster internet service provider, leave our spouse or a friendship for someone more interesting or glamorous, purchase that "perfect" dress. We are never satisfied. But falling for the lure of "things" or the "new and improved' can never satisfy our deepest needs. And in fact, the Bible has very harsh words about coveting, equating it with idolatry. Today we will see some of what God's word has to say about coveting.

Exodus 20:17 (RSV) You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his ass, or anything that is your neighbor's.

Mark 7:21-23 (RSV) For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man.

Luke 12:15 (RSV) And he said to them, "Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

Ephesians 5:5 (RSV) Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure man, or one who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Ephesians 3:5 (RSV) Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Jan

 jan@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org