The 10th Commandment

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.

~Exodus 20: 17~

I've been thinking about the 10th commandment the last few days and was struck by the fact that first we are not to covet our neighbour's things/possessions but it's also mentions not to covet your neighbour's wife. As I thought through that it seemed different than the command to not commit adultery/look at another lustfully, because that's what I thought of at first.

 But then I thought of all the times that I've wished that I could have someone else's life. Be living their adventure, doing what they're doing, be good at the things they are good at. THAT is where, I believe, the heart of this commandment is. Because we all covet people - at some point. We think we would like to be who they are, or if it's in a romantic sense, want to be with them, to have a person to ourselves, we may also go as far as to make an idol out of them.

God always has reasons for the things He commands and so I was thinking about the reason' behind this one and came to thinking that - we aren't to covet possession's because God wants us to be thankful for what we do have and to be content with it as well.

We're also not to covet 'our neighbour's wives' or any other person because of a reason similar to the first point - that we are to be content and thankful what God has given us , our own abilities, talents etc. and also the friends, family, and acquaintances around us. But the second point is that to wish you 'had' and certain person or to wish you were another person - would dehumanize another by making them - a person made in the image of God- an mere object in your mind.
It also devalues what God has made by forgetting about the time and effort He put into creating YOU specifically.
Going around with these thoughts can cause one to doubt God and His goodness and question 'why isn't my life a certain way or as 'good' as someone else's!'
And That's a road that is not good for anyone to wander down.

"The Lord is righteous in all His ways..."

~Psalm 145:17~ 

He heals the brokenhearted

So this post is going to be a little bit more personal than usual but I need to write it out - so here it is.

The other night my boyfriend and I broke up. Yep, that was hard to write. I'm not going to go into more details but God is calling us in different directions in life. In my heart and in his we know this is the right thing, there is a certain peace about it but that doesn't take away the pain.

The sinful part of my nature wants to be angry, to find someone to blame, but I know stooping to that will not honor God or the decision and when I'm hurting I keep recalling different scriptures and trying to lean on Jesus when it's overwhelming. 

This morning I checked the Verse of the day on my phone and it was from 1 Samuel 12 - Verse 15:

" But if you do not obey the Lord, and if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors."

That was my first reminder, that obeying God in more important than anything and that it won't be good for anyone who pushes and fights against it. 

My second reminder came from several days before the break up, I was reading through 1 Corinthians 7, which for quick reference is Concerning married life/the unmarried and my thoughts were stuck on verses 34-35: 

"An unmarried woman is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.  I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord."

And at the time I thought and just said to God, that I would be content in serving Him whether single or married and God definitely reminded me of it! And I don't take it back. Yes I'm hurting, I'm not ok right this second - but I will be, 

Because He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. 

Praise God!