Scripture to Read: Exodus 20:17
God wanted to make sure that His command about not coveting was absolutely clear. So, God ended Exodus 20:17 by saying, “You shall not covet…anything that belongs to your neighbor.” We would think that God had covered everything when He had said, “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….” but God knows how ugly our fleshly nature is so He included His final statement so there would be no question in anyone’s heart or mind that coveting anything was a sin. As we saw in Philippians 4:11–12, God wants us to learn to be content in every circumstance we may face. God had Paul write something similar in 1 Timothy 6:6–10, “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” God reminds us that we came into this world with nothing. Therefore, we’re taking nothing out of it either. We must be thankful for the provision God has given us.
Challenge & Application
· What would be the right attitude toward what you currently have and why?
· We know the stuff of this world never satisfies; so, how are you practicing thankfulness each day to our Lord?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!