The midland journal., 1943-12-03
Lesson for December S

Lesson subjects and Scripture texts 20.
couneil OF o. Religious Eduestion: used By
THE SIN OF COvETOUSNESS
:. LESSON Z TExr-Exodus ao:l7; Luke u;
GOLDEN TExT-Thou shalt not covet
anything that is thy neighbor's.-
| Exodus 20:17.
The Ten Commandments fthe last
one Of which we study today are
characterized by their brevity, their
comprehensive touch with all of
life, and fidelity to the right. But
they are also unique and different
from all other laws in that they
reach into the inner recesses Of a
mans heart, a realm where only
God can judge and act.
This last commandment (against
covetousness) emphasizes that point,
for it does not expressly require or
forbid any act, but deals with the
motive of mans action. Man can
| judge another mans acts, but he
cannot judge his motives, desires, or
thoughts. God must do that.
But man can, by the grace Of God,
control his motives; and hence we
have this commandment and its in
depreciation.
I. The n-Covetousness (Ex.
20:17).
It may be surprise to many to
learn that coveting-or desiring what
belongs to another-is a sin. It has
become one of the respectable
sins" accepted in the best circles
and practiced by many church peo-
pie.
AS a matter Of fact, this sin un-
derlies all the other sins against
which the commandments speak. He
who has a love for money and an
evil desire to have his neighbor's
possessions will hate, lie, steal,
cheat, kill, in fact, as DR.. Morgan
says, "The whole realm of human
interrelations is disorganized and
broken up by the dishonoring of the
tenth commandment"
If you have become a lover Of
money, or one who longs to have
what your friends own, beware. You
are in real danger.
III. The Result - A Ruined Life
Nuke IL: 1920.
To have such spirit makes a
a nrnaIy (xy 10Y oo1Iat,c aNd
selfish (vv. 17-19), and foolish ". 20),
both regarding this life and that
which is to come.
The yardstick of success in the
world-for an individual, an organi-
cation, or nation; yes, even for
many church-is the possession Of
wealth, or property, or other
''things." Write it in large letters
on the hearts and minds of our boys
and girls, ga mans life consisteth
not in the abundance of the things
which he possesseth" ". 15).
The one who was known to his
friends (and to himself) as "a rich
man. ". 16), but whom God knew
as ''fool' ". 20), had more than
he could use for himself. He had
to build new and bigger barns, and
could not see the "barns" that were
already prepared, for, as Ambrose
says, 'Thou hast barns-the bosoms
of the needy, the houses of widows,
the mouths of orphans and infants"
He was a fool who loved money for
himself. One wonders what he had
to say for himself when that very
night he was called into the pres
ence of God to give an account of
his stewardship ". 20). If you are
similarly situated and have the
same attitude, what will you say in
that day?
An important point which we
must note is that Jesus expressly
repudiated the connecting of His
name with the so-called social Cos
pel' in His reply ". 14).
III. The Cure-Trust in God duke
12:22-25).
Because covetousness destroys the
best in life, we ought to shun it like
poison. The best antidote Cor cure)
if we have been poisoned by it is
to go all-out in our trust and con-
fidence in God.
We who are children of God are
to take no anxious thought for the
morrow. This does not forbid prop
er preparation and forethought, but
it does rule out fretful anxiety. The
reasons are very clear and cogent.
First of all, while food and cloth-
ing are important, they are not of
first Importance. The vital thing is
that one have life. Otherwise things
are useless ". 23). We must keep
our sense of proportion, of relative
values.
Then too, God is the One who must
care for every one of us. And He
does care for us! Why not trust
| Him? He cares for all creation;
can He not care for you? If then
you trust the all-powerful One, what
occasion is there for worry, or cov-
etousness?
And finally comes the devastating
argument. Worry never accom-
plished anything. Anxiety does moi