Arkansas State press., 1946-09-13

Proverbs II 20.
The Ten Commandments, the
study Of which we conclude today
(the remaining lessons Of the quar-
ter deal with other laws). have been
revealed to us as being character
lied by their brevity. their conpre-
hensive 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 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
Interpretation.
I. Csveteusness - What 1t IL
(Exod. 20:lD.
TO covet does not mean Just to
desire. but to have an unrestrained
desire for that which we ought not
10 have or which by right belongs
to another.
II shows Itself In our day In .
more general way - m inordinats
desire for possessions IN general.
There too man loses himself. II
may be . surprise to many 70 learn
that eevetins. o. desiring Whist BE-
longs to another. ID . sin. 1t has be-
come one Of the respectable sins"
accepted In the best circles and
practiced By many church people.
A. matter Of fact. this Sin under
lies al the other sins against which
the commandments speak. He who
has . love for money and an evil
desire to have his neishbor's pos
sessions will hate, lie. steal. cheat,
kill. In fact, - DR.. G. Campbell
Morgan says. The whole realm Of
human interrelations is disorgan-
lied and broken up by the dishonor-
ing Of the tenth commandment" "
II. Covetousness - What II Does
(Prov. 1923, "a; Luke l2:l32D,
/. II Makes a Man Stingy prov.
ll:23, 24). The righteous man seeks
that which is good and he knows
nothing Of the close-fisted stinginess
which withholds from God and man.
Sometimes TO economic is to lose.
and TO be liberal Is to gain
especially In the things Of God.
God gives literally James l:0.
and the man who knows God scat
tiers not only his money. but his
riches Of mind and service for Gods
glory.
In sad contrast Is the man who
keeps his possessions for himself
and reaps only the barrenness ID
soul and lssnness Of life.
4 Il Makes . Man Envious
tLuks iS:i3-iO. Noting the ability
q Jesus b dealing with others. THE
maa thought v divert ne Lerd esem
~ reai sinislry 70 ne SOULS Of ssan
= ~ setuias Il social psooisms-
a bseauss b. wee orvedy.
osuns church lssAsss thiuh GAss y
Olar buslMsss eNw - 70 pfsech
aad petnsts . soeisi gospel. They
~ bsttes resUal vsree IL
Z. n Makes Q Man esAash LAKE
lS:ie, ~. The enc who vss known
y bio friends % the rich man.
". 10 wss known 70 God - q
''fecr' ". ~. bscause having more
than no could uss he hoarded II for
himself. One wendsrs what ne had
70 say tor himself when hat very
night he was called Into the pres.
sncs u God 10 stvs an account Of
his sssvardship ". ~. II you are
similarly situated and have ths
came altitude. what will you say N
nat dayi
4. II Makes Q Man Proud Nuks
1919. All around him were the
hungry. He needed no barns. TOT
there were the empty hands Of the
needy: but money had made him
hard and proud. He would build
bigger barns, perhaps the biggest In
that community. People would mar
vel At his prosperity and he would
live long 70 enjoy II.
But II did not work out tina,
way. for. alas. Il 10 true Of covet
business that
s. II Makes 4 Man Foolish Luke
l2:io-2l). The man who reckoni
without God 10 sure to come Y
grief. Leaving him out Of one'i
thinking and planning invites dis
aster.
God called. and he who hac
thought TO 60 on for years In self
ish pleasure. found that he must &c
and leave II all. Worse yet, he hao
10 face the judgment Of God upor
his eternal soul.
Do not fail to note that there is a
way TO lay up treasures in heaven
by q "close walk with Christ. com
Ing TO appreciate and cultivate the
Joys Of the spirit" and so using
ones possessions that they coun, fol
the glory Of God. Even gold cat