pastorjohnb

Thoughts and musings on faith and our mighty God!

Tag Archives: covet


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Commands

Reading: Exodus 20:1-17

Exodus 20:3 – “You must have no other gods before me.”

Entering the history of Israel, they have been freed from slavery in Egypt for three months. In this time they have tested both God and Moses. They have witnessed amazing miracles as expressions of God’s love for them. The mass of humanity is now at Mount Sinai, where they prepare themselves to receive God’s covenant. On the mountain Moses receives these ten commands from God. Obedience to these commands should be Israel’s response to God’s saving grace.

The first four commands center on our relationship with God. It is from this relationship that all other relationships flow. We shall not have any other god and we shall not make or worship idols. We shall not misuse God’s name. And we shall keep the Sabbath holy. These commands shape our relationship with God and they remind us of God’s proper place in that relationship.

The next six commands come in pretty rapid succession. These commands define our relationships with one another. The first deals with our family, our primary relationship: honor father and mother. The next five expand the circle to the wider world: do not kill, commit adultery, steal, lie, or covet. These seem simple and straightforward. Yet within each command is a degree of interpretation and application. Jesus will flesh out some of these commands in the New Testament.

These commands can be simplified. Jesus summed them up as love God, love neighbor. John Wesley used three simple rules to govern his life. As we can do with the 10 Commandments or with any rule, we can try to limit what it means to love or we can try to limit who our neighbor is. The simple answer is “all.” Love God with all that we are and with all that we do, say, think, and act. Love all people as Christ loved us. May it be so.

Prayer: Lord God, center us first in our relationship with you. May we love you in all possible ways, bringing you all the glory, honor, and praise. From there, Lord, move us on to generously and genuinely love all people. Open our hearts to the width and depth and breadth of your love for us, revealed in Jesus Christ. Then move us to pour that love out into the world. Amen.


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Relationship

Readings: Exodus 19, Exodus 20, Exodus 21

Exodus 20:1 – “I am the Lord your God.”

Photo credit: Robert Linder

As the Israelites travel on in the wilderness they arrive at Mount Sinai. Moses goes up the mountain and God speaks to him. Through Moses, God invites the people into relationship – obey me and stay true to the covenant. To accept means that Israel will become “my most precious possession… a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.” The people accept the invitation, paving the way for the giving of the Law. In order to be ready to receive God’s law, the people prepare themselves, becoming ritually clean.

God descends on the mountain, filling the people with fear. They are warned to stay off of the mountain while God is present. Then Aaron joins Moses as they go up the mountain. In chapter 20 God begins to give Moses the Law. It begins with the Ten Commandments. These well-known verses begin with this foundational statement: “I am the Lord your God.” The “I am” echoes who and what God is. This was God’s name that Moses brought with him when he first went to Egypt.

The first four commandments are about us living in right relationship with God – no other gods or idols, no using God’s name carelessly, honor the Sabbath to covenant with God. The last six deal with our relationship with one another. They cover how to treat each other. An interesting side note – the last one, the one dealing with coveting, is the only one against inward thoughts. One can look at the last as a summary too. Coveting leads to the actions covered in commandments five through nine.

Today’s readings close with instructions that apply these relationship rules to some specific situations: slavery and animals. While many of these do not apply to us anymore, there is value in understanding their spirit. John Wesley’s simple rules “do no harm” and “do good” convey this same spirit. They are about treating and loving each other as God loves and treats us. May this be the spirit that we live by.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for taking the time to define, to explain, to invite us into faithful living with you, our covenant God. Fill us with your Spirit and empower us to live as your witness to love, grace, and mercy. Amen.


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Open to Others

Reading: Luke 12: 13-21

Verse 15: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions”.

On its most basic level the parable of the rich man is about greed and the negative decisions it can lead to. In the parable a bumper crop triggered the man’s “mine” instincts. He decided he had to build bigger barns to store his new crop. He coveted his grain because in it he saw not only financial security but also a chance to take some time to enjoy life. He was very focused on self.

Possessions and wealth are not the only things we can feel greed over and can seek to covet. This morning I read about a small neighborhood church in a changing community that decided to take a chance and reach out. Instead of holding onto their church, they opened their doors and invited their new immigrant neighbors inside. They invited them in and began praying with them – to find homes and jobs and for comfort to their loneliness. The praying led to relationships and that small church grew as their new friends became brothers and sisters in Christ.

Some churches could see new faces as threats to what they have and know. In many cases immigrants are cast in an “us” and “them” scenario. And immigrants are not the only people groups that can be seen in an “us” and “them” framework. When we create perceived differences between ourselves and another group of people, we are denying that they too were created in the image of God. When we allow greed to put up a barrier between us and our neighbors, we are holding tightly to what we have always known or had and are not allowing God’s love to work in our neighborhood, in our community, in our world, or in our own heart.

The rich man was focused only on self. He could not see all he had to offer his neighbors. His greed prevented him from seeing beyond himself and from experiencing God’s love at work. In the end, what good did all that grain do him? Storing up and holding things for ourselves – goods, money, time, compassion, prayers, empathy, a place at the table – does not make us rich towards God either. May we all learn a little from the rich man and from the church that opened its doors to those outside. May we practice what we learn.

Prayer: Lord God, who is out there today for me to engage? Lead me to share your love with another today. Soften my heart and open my eyes, hands, and feet. Amen.


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Layers, Ripples, and Depth

Reading: Exodus 20: 12-17

Verses 12-17: “Honor your mother and father… you shall not… murder… commit adultery… steal… give false testimony… covet…”

Today we look at the last section of the Ten Commandments. These six deal with our relationship with each other. They are not written in isolation but within the context of all ten. The covenant relationship that God establishes with us in the first four commandments influence our relationships with each other. Just as the first four revolve with loving God fully, so too do the last six center on loving each other completely.

On the surface level the last six are pretty straight forward and easy to understand. Yet each also has layers to it. For example, the command to “honor your mother and father” is generally about our relationship with our parents and the lifelong benefits of doing so. But this commandment can also extend to all who help parent us – grandparents, teachers, pastors, Sunday school teachers, and even some of our bosses.

The layers on some can come from the ripple affects they cause. For example, committing adultery is simply not an act that affects just the two people involved directly. It also impacts families and friends and self and maybe even employment or social standing. The same can be said of all of the other six. We never sin in isolation.

The depth or breadth of a couple are also amazing when we take time to really ponder them. The command to not give false testimony is about not lying. Simple enough, right? But is not telling the whole truth or not being fully honest the same sin? When we think of a few other ways that false testimony can play out we can see how deep and wide this sin can really be. Do we gossip? Do we slander? Do we compare others unfairly to elevate ourselves?

The last of the Ten Commandments fits all three of the above. When we covet it can begin as an attraction. But it can soon become an obsession. The layers or levels of covetousness can also create ripples. Who we use or what we are willing to do to get that “thing” can leave a wake of hurt and pain in our trail. The sin of coveting can also become widespread. While it certainly is in our society, it can also become contagious in our lives. Finding joy or pleasure in getting some “thing” can lead us to search for joy or pleasure in other things and in other ways.

But all is not lost! When we love others as God intended, all is good in our lives and in the world. May we love well today!