The Thinklings

"And do you now begin to see why Christianity has always said that the devil is a fallen angel? That is not a mere story for the children. It is a real recognition of the fact that evil is a parasite, not an original thing. The powers which enable evil to carry on are powers given it by goodness."

- C.S. Lewis

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Two of the Most Ignored Commandments in Scripture

Posted by Bill @ 6:37 am CDT
Filed under: Bible, Contemplation

Number 1:

“You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.” - Exodus 20:17

This is the tenth commandment God delivered to Moses. It gets lost in the mix, doesn't it? For many of us, if we pay attention to it at all, we see the part about coveting our neighbor's wife, linking it to the command about adultery. But it's easy to forget the "or anything that is your neighbor's" part. Our neighbor's job, car, house, iPod, playstation, etc . . . Want 'em, want 'em, want 'em. Our culture is soaked in covetousness.

Number 2:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life . . ." - Matthew 6:25

I break this one all the time. I'm breaking it right now, as a matter of fact.

Lord help me.

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Comments on "Two of the Most Ignored Commandments in Scripture":

1. Daniel Ross - 08/27/2008 8:59 am CDT

Strangely enough, my wife (a big-time worrier) gave me the "don't be anxious about your life" scripture last night as I was fretting about oh so many things.

Good post.

2. Quaid - 08/27/2008 9:05 am CDT

I think God will teach each of these commandments very clearly to my wife and me over the next few years.

Having just moved to a new city, starting a new phase of life, anxiety is more or less the dominant temptation in my life. The most minor events brings on the subtlety of worry. Before I know it, it's full-blown.

Praying without ceasing - trying to keep an open conversation with God - has helped me a lot, but this is probably one of the main areas of prayer needs in my life, as well, for the time being.

Praying for you and with you.

Sidenote: First Thinklings comment typed on my new MacBook

3. Blake - 08/27/2008 9:15 am CDT

One thing I think we need to distinguish between is concern vs. anxiety. I don't think the passage is saying that it is wrong to worry about the welfare of others or things like that. I "worry" about a number of things, yet I still am confident that God will prevail in the end. In context, Mat 6:25 appears to be talking about worrying about our own concerns and comfort.

4. Chanda Canup - 08/27/2008 9:37 am CDT

Yes, Bill, I am with you. God grant us the peace that passes all understanding today as we give You what passes our understanding right now. Amen.

5. The Ancient Mariner - 08/27/2008 2:46 pm CDT

Excellent point, and very well put.

6. Lauren - 08/27/2008 4:18 pm CDT

so that first one - that's why I don't understand it when people go look at houses when they already own one, or go to the furniture store when they couldn't possibly fit any more furniture in their house if they tried, or go test-drive cars when theirs is working just fine. maybe its fun? or maybe its just to wish they had more than they have. I'm not sure really which it is because I don't have these desires - except to drive cars, that's just plain fun.

7. Lauren - 08/27/2008 4:22 pm CDT

oh and maybe those two commandments are linked. so if I'm envying and desiring my neighbor's stuff, maybe it because I am anxious about my own life. But if I were content then I would have that peace of God that would guard my heart and mind and I would be able to trust God no matter what my circumstance.

8. Milly - 08/27/2008 4:26 pm CDT

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life . . ." - Matthew 6:25

This one is hard for me right now.
My dad has been very ill lately. He is better but freaked us out a bit and still has a bit to go .

My divorce is still in the works and we are living in the same house. Not fun for anyone.

I'm holding on to God and tight

9. Doug - 08/27/2008 8:03 pm CDT

I'm learning this too; It's tough to come to the point of saying;"Ok Father, this didn't go the way I wanted, so I'm going to trust You are orchestrating things for my good." It's much more natural for me to worry.

Great post!

10. Roy - 08/27/2008 10:41 pm CDT

Quaid, you had me til your sidenote.

Seems a corallary of Eph 6:4 is something to the effect of not provoking your brother to covet ;D

11. Quaid - 08/28/2008 7:04 am CDT

forgive me
:)

12. Shrode - 08/28/2008 8:58 am CDT

Milly,
I prayed for you just now.

Wow. Please consider this a cyberhug. We do care about what you're going through and I wish I could do more.

13. Milly - 08/28/2008 12:29 pm CDT

Shrode,
Thanks I needed that.

14. Jane - 08/30/2008 9:30 pm CDT

Found a new resource I think ministers will love -- the Faith Database (www.faithdatabase.com). It has over 1500 resource books and 10 different Bible texts -- an you can search it - print it - and I can download it to my PDA. You should check it out. I am buying one for our church.

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