Many people are like the rich young man when they hear Jesus say, “Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not say false testimony; Honor your father and mother and you will love your neighbor as yourself?(Matthew 19:18-19). They also respond promptly: “Have I observed all this?(v. 20). Can a person claim that he has never killed, forged or stolen?As false as this statement is. However, no sane person would say he has never coveted.
The last of the Ten Commandments, “You Don’t Covet,” is different from the others. In these few words, we are presented with the very heart of God’s law. God’s law is not just about our actions. Don’t you covet? Unreservedly announces that our thoughts, feelings and inclinations?Heart problems? They are of great importance to the Lord.
- The sin he faces is one of our most familiar companions.
- This happens when we learn of a colleague’s promotion.
- When we see a new car in the garage next door.
- Or when we think of this seemingly perfect family in the church.
- Evil head in an instant.
- We don’t have to look for her or be taught there.
- Instead.
- It comes naturally and although this sin is familiar.
- It is not a friend.
- It is an opportunistic and mortal adversary that captures the heart.
- Changes affections.
- Occupies the mind and destroys a life.
- Where there is peace.
- Brings hostility.
- ; where there is love.
- Causes division; and where there is contentment.
- It generates a complaint.
Why is greed so deadly? Because he will never be satisfied, greed yearns incessantly more of this world and someone whose thoughts, affections and heart care about the world will stop seeking heaven, greed leads to the abandonment of love to God and leads the individual to hate his He pushes his heart into the well of selfish interests and to the mud and mud of envy , slander, adultery, pride, dishonor, murder, robbery and idolatry. It has been correctly said that when we violate one of the first nine commandments, we also violated the Tenth Commandment.
How do we fight this sin of the heart? Let me offer three simple biblical stimuli: look at Christ, live happily and rejoice in gratitude.
First, look at Christ and the things above. ” Therefore, seek first their kingdom and their righteousness, and all these things above will be given unto them,” the Lord said (Matthew 6:33). The more we desire Christ, the less we aspire to the things of this world. Honor, wealth, material possessions, reputation, worldly success, and even health have little shine compared to the radiant glory of God in the person of Christ (Hebrews 1. 3). When we seek him, we discover that earthly treasures nurture sacred pleasures, but that joy in Christ is eternal (Psalm 103. 17). They have empty promises, but Christ’s promises are secure. comfort, but Christ guarantees it (Matthew 11:28-30). Following Christ is a business like no other, because he never disappoints. His beauty, kindness, comfort, peace and joy surpass all that this world has to offer.
Second, if we want greed to have no influence on our lives, we must also seek to live with contentment. Contentment is not something we run for, but something we trust. The Apostle Paul said, “I have learned to live happily in All Situations?(Philippians 4. 11b). He said to Timothy, “Is great source of profit piety contented?”(1 Timothy 6. 6). Paul believed in a sovereign God who ruled heaven and earth, and trusted him. He knew that God’s providence would provide it. All I had was enough for him to rest satisfied. If God thought it would be good for us to have more, He would give us more. Every Christian rightly seeks to maintain this mentality. And when he does, what joy brings contentment to the Christian life!Contentment is one of those rare gems; once found and consecrated, it fills the soul with pleasure.
Finally, perhaps the greatest strength we can muster against greed is to rejoice with gratitude. Gratitude takes Christian life away from the dangerous quicksand of discontent. It is difficult to settle in all circumstances if gratitude does not remain in our hearts. The Apostle Paul exhorts us, even when we are struggling with anguish, to make [our] requests known to God, through prayer and supplication, through thanksgiving?(Philippians 4. 6). We want to thank God for what we have received and for what He has given us. “Is everything worth a gift and every perfect gift comes from above?(James 1:17). Therefore, we rejoice not only in what we receive personally, but also in the good. gifts the Lord has given to others. We and others do not appreciate these gifts out of sheer coincidence. With this, we can rejoice with gratitude.
Dear Christian, look at Christ, live happily and rejoice in gratitude and take greed away from your heart and your life. He’s a deadly enemy you shouldn’t play with. Instead, do we live in the love of God and our neighbour?our treasures in the heavens.
By: Jason Helopolous. © 2015 Ligonier. Original Ministries: you don’t covet.
This article is part of the June 2015 issue of Tabletalk magazine
Translation: Vin-cius Silva Pimentel. Review: Vin-cius Musselman Pimentel. © 2015 Faithful Ministérium. All rights reserved. Website: MinistryFiel. com. br. Original: You do not covet.
Authorizations: You are authorized and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in any format, provided that the author, his ministry and translator are no longer no longer modified and not used for commercial purposes.