10 C's #10: Lust, part b

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"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." Exodus 20:17 (NIV)

Does this command make the godly life incompatible with capitalism? No. Capitalism allows one who desires something to acquire it if means are sufficient to complete the exchange. In capitalism, if I like your car, I can go out and buy one just like it. The issue with this command is not that I want something just like yours, rather, I want yours. It's not, I want a wife like yours, but I want your wife. This reveals an attitude toward God, ungratefulness. When we recognize God's blessing in someone's life, we should rejoice with them and praise God with them because, Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 (NIV) Thus, the positive version of this command is: See my blessings in others as reminders to praise me for my generosity.

Lust, part a, is here as well as links to the entire series.

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