The 10th Commandment

Hi Siblings

I’m not sure when or how the time has flown, but we’re at the 10th commandment. You’re welcome to check whether I omitted one because it seems we’ve covered them in no time. Nevertheless, we press on with our reflections. Today’s Holy Nougat invites us to take stock of the Joneses.

Exodus 20:17 NLT

[17] “You must not covet your neighbour’s house. You must not covet your neighbour’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”

No To Envy

I can hear the song as clearly as if I was 4 again, living across the street from our neighbour with the Chopper bicycles. He dolled them up with streamers and all. Each Sunday, he and his grands went for their afternoon ride. What was even more striking was the song that blasted from his house:

You’re bad-mind/ you’re grudgeful/ Me say you’re envious.

Over and over it played, as though he was taunting us. The worst part is that I was truly envious. I wanted a Chopper bike so badly. I convinced myself that owning a Chopper bike was proof that I had it ‘made in the shade’, for that’s what cool people did.

My poor sense of balance was ignored, as was the fact that I’d not ridden a bike before. I carried that desire with me for years, and when I finally got a bicycle, I tired of it in no time. I didn’t desire the bicycle out of necessity.

It was pure covetuousness.

Self-Check

Have you ever coveted something belonging to another? If yes, then this commandment is for you too.

Application

YHWH did not mince words. We’re warned against envy, for our neighbour’s

house.

wife,

male or female servant,

ox or donkey, or

anything else.

That is abundantly clear – don’t try to live like the Joneses.

But why? What’s wrong with envy?

I’m so glad you asked.

Envy hardly ever travels alone. Often envy travels with Deception, Theft, Lying, and even Murder. Ask King David, or King Ahaz. Those folks acted on their envy, and it was catastrophic –

Bloodshed everywhere!

The other reason however, is perhaps more critical. Envy communicates dissatisfaction with God. It implies that God hasn’t made sufficient provision for us. Remember Elkanah in 1 Samuel 1? When Hannah kept insisting that she wanted a child, he asked, ‘Am I not enough for you?’. In some way, it was the message that the Children of Israel communicated to Adonai (YHWH) when they sought their own king. Adonai said as much in 1 Samuel 8:7-8. For, if we’re not careful, the thing that we covet could become an idol or a distraction.

Assignment

So, siblings, I believe that you’ll agree with me that covetuousness has no part with us. Our task therefore, is to identify where it tries to reside, and evict it. Otherwise, the enemy of our souls will be taunting us – You’re bad-mind/ you’re grudgeful/ Me say you’re envious.

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May all we seek be found in Christ