Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1946-09-14

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 compre-
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 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
Interpretation.
/. Covetousness What It Is
(Exod. 20:1O.
To covet does not mean just to
desire, but to have an unrestrained
desire for that which we ought not
to have or which by right belongs
to another.
1t shows itself in our day in a
more general way - an inordlnate
desire for possessions in general
There too man loses himself. 1t
may be a surprise to many to learn
that coveting, or desiring what be-
longs to another, is sin. It has be-
come one of the respectable sins"
accepted in the best circles and
practiced by many church people.
AS a matter of fact, this sin under
lies all the other sins against which
the commandments speak. He who
has a love for money and an evil
desire to have his neighbours pos
sessions will hate, lie, steal, cheat,
kill. In fact, as DR.. G. Campbell
Morgan says, 1.-The whole realm Of
human interrelations is disorgan-
lied and broken up by the dishoncr-
ing of the tenth commandment. "
III. Covetousness - What 1t Does
prov. 1923, "a; Luke 12:13-2D.
l. It Makes a Man Stingy prov.
1923, 2N. The righteous man seeks
that which is good and he knows
nothing of the close-fsted 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 DANES 1:6,
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 OF
soul and leanness of life.
2. It Makes a Man Envious
duke 12:13-15). Noting the ability
of Jesus in dealing with others, this
man thought to divert the Lord from
his real ministry to the souls of men
to the settling of social problems
all because he was greedy.
Some church leaders think that is
our business now - to preach
and promote a social gospel. They
had better reread verse IA.
3. It Makes a Man Selfish duke
1915, I'D. The one who was known
to his friends as the "rich man"
". 16 was known to God as a
fool" ". 20), because having more
than he could use he boarded it 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?
4. It Makes a Man Proud duke
1918. All around him were the
hungry. He needed no barns, for
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 to enjoy it.
But it did not work out that
way, for, alas, it is true OF covet-
BUSINESS that
S. 1t Makes a Man Foolish duke
12:19-2D. The man who reckons
without God is sure to come to
grief. Leaving him out Of ones
thinking and planning invites dis
aster.
God called, and he who had
thought to go on for years in self
ish pleasure, found that he must GO
and leave it all. Worse yet, he had
to face the judgment of God upon
his eternal soul.
Do not fail to note that there is a
way to lay up treasures in heaven
by "close walk with Christ, com,
ing to appreciate and cultivate the
lows of the spirit" and so using
ones possessions that they count fol-
the glory of God. Even gold car
be so invested for God as to send
q - ~ eternity What an Oppor.