June 15, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
THE TENTH COMMANDMENT. “Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, wife, manservant, maidservant, ox, ass nor ANYTHING that is thy neighbor’s.” Exo. 20: 17.
God is also called Palmoni, “the divine Numberer” and is a God of order who “numbers the numberless stars of the heavens” and the number of hairs on our heads. Number Ten in the Bible stands for ‘completion,’ hence there are only Ten Commandments that cover our “whole duty to God and to our fellowmen.
Therefore, the Creator, Law Giver, Life Giver and Sustainer, Redeemer, merciful High Priest and Mediator and righteous Judge of all the earth, in His omniscience determined that the last but certainly not “the least” of the Ten is the sin of Covetousness. Here’s why:
“The tenth commandment strikes at the VERY ROOT OF ALL SINS, prohibiting the SELFISH DESIRE, from which springs the SINFUL ACT. He who in obedience to God’s law refrains from INDULGING a sinful desire for that which BELONGS TO ANOTHER, will not be guilty of an ACT of wrong towards his fellow-creatures.” Patriarchs & Prophets, p. 309. This commandment alone, if there were no other, reveals why Lucifer fell, Eve then Adam sinned and why mankind to this very moment of earth’s history, is convulsing with unrest, anger, hatred, strife and violence.
“The last commandment CONDEMNS covetousness. Every SELFISH DESIRE, EVERY DEGREE OF DISCONTENT, every ACT OF OVERREACHING, every SELFISH GRATIFICATION works to the strengthening and developing of a CHARACTER which will DESTROY the CHRISTLIKENESS of the human agent, and CLOSE the gates of the city of God against him.” Letter 15,1895.
“When angels come to minister to those who shall be heirs of salvation and witness the exhibition of selfishness, of covetousness, of overreaching and benefitting self at others’ disadvantage, they TURN AWAY IN GRIEF. . . . Those who profess to be waiting and watching for the appearing of their Lord should not disgrace their profession by bantering in deal and standing for the last penny. Such fruit does not grow in the Christian tree.” Col. 2, Testimonies, pp. 238-9.
Do we understand now how and why, in the midst of all the untold suffering, despondency, confusion, helplessness, hopelessness, uncertainty and loss of jobs, opportunities, health, bright futures and precious lives brought upon mankind by this multi-faceted pandemic, that men in positions of affluence, influence, power and public trust (through their business or political institutions) will even take advantage of the misfortunes and vulnerabilities of their fellowmen?
Such are “works of the flesh” not the “fruits of the Spirit.” More on this law this week. God is faithful to us. Are we faithful to Him? NMF