Farming out covetousness; The rich covet tool God didn’t redeem us by grace so we could practice covetousness without a guilty conscience; God saved us by grace so that we would love our neighbor, seek his good, and delight in his prosperity; and when he is in need to extend our loving hands to him. Grace makes practical lovers out of us all.
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s…I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”
The law reveals us to ourselves. The law is a revelation of what is just. God’s standard of justice. It’s holy, just and good. Ponder this: The tenth commandment is violated even when you practice it through your elected representatives. Farming out your covetousness is actually worse when you hire armed public officials to do your dirty work. You might as well go next door and steal your neighbor’s stuff by gunpoint – why not, you too chicken?
In America today we frame covetousness into a law. America today says “Stolen waters are sweet” Proverbs 9:17. Now the rich may be saying “amen” here. But guess what? You are given your riches to be good to the poor. Elected officials wouldn’t steal your money if you weren’t covetous yourselves. To withhold is as evil as to steal. The rich in this country could eliminate social security and government welfare if they wanted to.
Because Americans love covetousness we have laws legalizing theft, which in turn creates multiple public offices, which in turn raises taxes, which in turn drives up prices, which in turn widens the gap between the rich and poor. Paul says that the commandment “not to covet” was ordained for life, but it actually brought him death. Death here is figurative. It means to be unresponsive. Paul wasn’t living a life of love to God or his neighbor – he was unresponsive to both. The commandment not “to covet” was ordained for life. Why? The law protects the basics – your life and property. The Bible teaches to separate a man from his property is to deprive him of his life. Why? Because his property is an extension of his talents. To take away the fruit of one’s labor is to take away his life.
The law is right. Covetousness is wrong. The law is holy, just, and good. God didn’t redeem us by grace so we could practice covetousness without a guilty conscience. God saved us by grace so that we would love our neighbor, seek his good, and delight in his prosperity; and when he is in need to extend our loving hands to him. Grace makes practical lovers out of us all.
Dear Universalist,
Facebook posts that use clever un-Scriptural statements in an attempt to make Jesus look cooler than the Jesus of eternal torment don’t do Him any favors. Quit trying to clean up His image by being clever. He doesn’t need your help. His image is just fine. Just because your “New and Improved Jesus” may be “nicer” doesn’t mean you made Him better. He’s as foreign as the eternal torment one.
Just use the marketing guidelines He’s already given. It’s found in a Book called The Holy Bible. Don’t deviate from the descriptions found there, they can’t be improved upon! Don’t invent a new “Jesus” in an attempt to make unbelievers like you. What kind of person makes up lies about the love of his/her life in order to be liked by the enemies of his/her lover?
Your friend,
Dan Sheridan
PS: You won’t get this if you don’t read the Bible, but here’s more food for thought: The Ark doesn’t need steadying by your frail hand! Dagon may need to be put in his place from time to time, but not the Image of the Invisible God!
“We receive Christ not only as a gift by faith, but also as an example of love toward our neighbor, whom we are to serve as Christ serves us. Faith brings and gives Christ to you with all his possessions. Love gives you to your neighbor with all your possessions. These two things constitute a true and complete Christian life; then follow suffering and persecution for such faith and love, and out of these grows hope and patience.” Martin Luther
“Now love does not receive his mercy, but faith only; out of which faith love springs, by which love I pour out again upon my neighbor that goodness that I have received of God by faith…we make good works fruits, by which our neighbor is the better, and by which God is honored…by which we know that our faith is no trick of imagination and dead opinion…but a living thing produced by the Holy Spirit.” William Tyndale
The jurisdiction of the law ends with death; Newness of Spirit vs. Oldness of Letter; Beware of the “spiritual” con job!
Coming up this morning in Romans! We will be looking at Romans 7:1-6.
Serving God in newness of spirit! God has given us a most precious gift – the ability to serve Him without fear!
We belong to Him! We are wrapped up in Him in a cozy bundle of life!
God’s universal law about Bacon! The believer’s gracious gift from God – service to Him! Romans 6:23 is one of the most mis-applied verses in Scripture.
Coming up this morning! Romans 6:19-23. Did you know the verse, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life” isn’t a “gospel” verse for the world?
Find out why on the next Romans audio.
Hey folks! I will have a second web site devoted to History. It will be www.SheridanHistory.com. It should be up by Monday. www.SheridanVoice.com will be devoted entirely to Scripture studies.
The reason I am doing this is because I have subscribers to Sheridan Voice and I don’t want to overburden their inbox if they aren’t interested in History.
Have a great weekend beloved! Christ is not only necessary, He’s enough!
We are free from sin while sinning? The paradox is that this is the greatest motivation to holiness!
