So Watch Yourself Closely – The Tenth Commandment

So Watch Yourself Closely

Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21

“And you shall not covet…”

Proverbs 4:23

Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

Covetousness is a heart thing first of all.

As should by now be obvious, covetousness begins in the heart, when a legitimate affection – desire – begins to go wrong. It loses its proper focus, takes on unnatural strength, and inclines the person in whom it operates to indulge wrong desires and the unlawful actions that accompany these. Solomon knew full well the power of wrong desire. It was his desire for sensual gratification, the esteem of his peers, and material achievements that got him into trouble after such a good beginning as King of Israel. He counseled his son to exercise vigilance over his heart, lest he make the same mistakes his father had. His advice is good for us: keep your heart with all vigilance! Prayer is the place to begin this diligent self-watch, and it will help if you have soul friend or two who will be honest with you about what they see in your life. However you do it, by all means, do it! Keep your heart with all vigilance, and you will keep covetousness in check.

Pray

Thank You, Lord, that You know my heart, You know my desires, and You are able to shape me according to Your desires and plans. I want to want what You want, Lord; help me, I pray.

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“In the Gates” is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is editor of the Worldview Church. He serves as dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He is the author or editor of twenty books, and has contributed chapters to four others. His essays, reviews, articles, papers, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and on a wide range of websites. His most recent books are The Ailbe Psalter and The Ground for Christian Ethics (Waxed Tablet).

Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (c) copyright 2001,2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Editor’s note: The use of a translation other than the Authorised Version in an article does not constitute an endorsement in whole or in part by The Christian Observer.