The Ten Commandment – 10th Commandment
Bible passage: Exodus 20:17
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
Dear brothers and sisters, In today’s 11th sermon, we’ll be looking at the 10th Commandment:
“You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.” "Neighbor" refers not only to fellow believers but everyone around us including relatives and non-believers. The commandment to “not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor” means more than simply not desiring what others’ possessions; it calls us to let go of all worldly desires. Human greed is endless. No matter how much we possess, we rarely say that it’s enough but continue to seek more. Yet, even if we attain countless possessions, the thirst in our hearts remains unquenched. Just as rivers never fill the sea, our hearts continue to seek better.
God calls us not to seek earthly, perishable things but to pursue what is above. True joy and fulfillment come when we fill our hearts with the hope of eternal life and heaven. Jesus said in Luke 12:15, "Then He said to them, 'Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.'" May today’s message help you recognize what is truly valuable. Pursue, not the love of the world or worldly desires, but the eternal and incorruptible glory of heaven. Dear brothers and sisters, Imagine visiting a neighbor's home, only to find that they are incredibly wealthy.
Seeing the large, stunning house filled with rare treasures, you can’t help but comment on its beauty and wonder. But sometimes, admiration turns into thoughts of “What if I had a house like that? What if I were as wealthy?” While we as faithful believers may not go so far as to steal someone else's possessions, the desire to possess the same can allow greed to settle in our hearts. As long as this greed resides in us, it can eventually lead to sin. James 1:15 states, "Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death." Greed is not only about material possessions but also includes the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life—all rooted in a desire to love the world. We may envy others for their appearance, financial status, or power, which leads to resentment over our lacks. Such greed can result in lies, theft, adultery, robbery, fraud, embezzlement, and even murder. It can create enmity among brothers, parents, children, or spouses. Greed prevents us from rejoicing in the truth and often leads to jealousy of those who have more than we do.
1 Timothy 6:10 states, "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." This verse indicates that even those who claim to believe in God can be led astray by greed and sin. The Bible contains many examples. For instance, during the conquest of Canaan, a man named Achan stole gold, silver, and a beautiful cloak from the spoils of the battle at Jericho and hid them. Despite knowing that all the spoils were to be dedicated to God, he succumbed to temptation and secretly stole. As a result, Achan, along with his entire family and their livestock, was destroyed. In 2 Kings 5, Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, was driven by greed for silver and clothing. He deceived Naaman and lied to God's servant Elisha, ultimately afflicting himself with leprosy. Similarly, Ananias and Sapphira sold their land with the intention of giving the proceeds to God, but when they received the money, greed stirred within.
They hid a portion of the money and lied to Peter, claiming what they brought was the full amount. This lie, motivated by greed, amounted to deceiving the Holy Spirit, resulting in their curse and eventual death. Dear brothers and sisters, No matter how much a person enjoys or gains the whole world, what use is it if they lose their life? If someone lacks wealth and fame in this world but believe in the Lord and possess true life, they are truly rich. In Luke 16, we find the parable of a rich man and a beggar. The rich man wore fine clothes and lived in luxury, while Lazarus, the beggar, led a pitiful life, begging for scraps from the rich man’s table. His misery was so great that dogs came and licked his sores. If people were asked to choose, most would choose to live the life of the rich man.
But because he didn’t believe in God or hope in heaven, earthly pleasures were all he had. He didn’t know how to give to others or store up treasures in heaven, focusing only on satisfying his desires. In contrast, Lazarus lived a humble life, revering God in his heart and placing hope in heaven. In the end, death came to both but the two outcomes were worlds apart. Lazarus was carried by angels to Abraham’s bosom while the rich man descended to Hades to suffer in torment forever. In burning fire of hell, the rich man longed for even a single drop of water to cool his tongue, yet even this small wish could not be granted. If given another chance, would the rich man choose the same life again or that of Lazarus? Surely, he’d choose salvation. If you have faith and spiritual insight, you won’t lose the joy and gratitude of salvation no matter how difficult your situation. Those who revere God and walk in the light can receive blessings of abundance, even if they once lived like Lazarus. Since Jesus, our rich and sovereign Lord, took on all our poverty, we too can receive blessings of abundance when we live by faith.
The key point is that even without worldly blessings, eternal life is far more important. Those with true faith remain unmoved by a humble life on earth. Some may wonder why certain people aren’t blessed despite their devoted faith… But there is no need for this. Anyone living sincerely in faith isn’t without blessings—God always provides the best for His faithful children. But blessings also have order. As 3 John 1:2 says, "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers." It’s important to first receive the blessing of a thriving soul. When we remove the sins in our hearts and our souls prosper as children of God, we can enjoy eternal glory in heaven and experience good health on earth. This is the law of the spiritual realm. If a spiritually impoverished soul gains wealth, it’s not always a blessing. More wealth can fuel desires that birth sin and may cause them to drift from God. In difficult times, they rely and sincerely love God, but change, shifting their focus to worldly desires with blessings of material wealth. Excuses like being busy are made to distance themselves from God, spending less time at church, and neglecting prayer. When earnings were small, they joyfully gave tithes, but feel reluctant as their income grows along with the tithes. As the heart becomes corrupted, it drifts further from God's Word and becomes like the world. However, a prosperous soul does not covet worldly things.
Even when blessed with material wealth or honor, they do not fall into worldly desires nor complain or resent God about lacking worldly goods. Instead, they may willingly sacrifice their possessions and even their lives for God. Apostle Paul remained faithful. He endured many persecutions, hunger, cold, and various trials, but did not let these hardships deter him. Philippians 4:11-13 states, "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." With the joy of salvation and the fullness of God’s love, apostle Paul was able to give thanks in every situation and serve God with gratitude.
If you cultivate the same mindset, you can also receive abundant blessings on earth. Dear brothers and sisters, the blessing of a prosperous soul is more important than earthly blessings and should be our first priority. But this does not mean that we must live in constant hardship or that our other desires will go unanswered until we achieve spiritual growth. When we diligently seek the truth according to our faith, and ask in faith, God provides for us in accordingly. There is a time and a place for everything. While we may pray for immediate answers, God knows best and may have us wait for greater blessings. If truly sought with faith, we will continue to pray without ceasing until our requests are fulfilled. However, if we ask out of greed and beyond the measure of our faith, we may find that we will not receive the spiritual belief or answers no matter how much we pray. James 4:2-3 states, "You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures." This verse highlights that when we ask with selfish intentions, God cannot grant those requests.
It is similar to a parent refusing to give their child allowance for bad purposes rather than for studious reasons. So when you ask for something, ensure your prayers align with God’s will and guided by the Spirit, rather than based on fleshly thoughts. Brothers and sisters, you may wonder why we’re addressing prayer when looking at the commandment of "You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor." To shed our covetousness and strive for holiness, God desires His children to enjoy abundant blessings. Prayer is essential for drawing forth answers and blessings and filling our hearts with the hope of heaven. God desires is prayer in the Spirit. Jude 1:20 says, "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit." Similarly, Ephesians 6:18 urges us to "pray at all times in the Spirit." The Holy Spirit knows God's heart and understands His depths; so praying under the Spirit’s guidance aligns with God's will and pleases Him. When you pray in the Spirit, your prayers are answered quickly, allowing your soul to prosper and heart’s desires to be fulfilled. To pray in the Spirit, the most important is to pray sincerely and wholeheartedly. Offer earnest and genuine prayers to the Father at every moment, and earnestly seek power.
This power includes the ability to heal, the strength to overcome the world with hope for heaven, and the faith to triumph over the enemy. It’s important to also seek the fiery power of prayer to pray under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the ability to love your enemies, the strength to live according to the Word, and the power to abandon fleshly thoughts in favor of spiritual thoughts. As you seek these spiritual powers and pray with sincerity, even those who initially struggle to pray will gradually be filled with the Holy Spirit. Often expressed as “being immersed in prayer,” this experience allows prayers to flow effortlessly, with even unexpected prayer titles pouring forth. In these prayers, you can cry out for longer without feeling fatigue; gaining new strength instead.
Try to pray in this manner during Daniel prayer meeting. Forcing thoughts to create prayers and merely filling the time can be exhausting, but when you cry out from your heart and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit, you’ll find it hard to cease praying. Through this, you’ll be able to receive quick answers and fill your heart with joy. Another important aspect of praying in the Spirit is being equipped with the Word of God. When you are nourished by Scripture, the Holy Spirit can clearly and specifically guide your prayers. If you consider the weekly sermons you hear as spiritual nourishment and cry out daily in prayer from the heart, then a year will be more than enough for sanctification. Daniel prayer will be enough for personal requests. As fervent prayers accumulate, greed and sins can be cast aside, with faith gained to receive whatever you ask. More prayer is required to receive the power of the Word that transforms souls, the ability to heal, and further empowerment. Brothers and sisters, may you shed all greed for worldly desires and cultivate a heart of contentment, always filled with gratitude and joy with hope for heaven. In the name of the Lord, I hope you will fervently pray in the Spirit, quickly attain sanctification, and seek what pleases God to receive abundant answers. Dear brothers and sisters, today’s the conclusion of Ten Commandments.
God gave us these commandments not to burden us, but to grant us complete blessings for our body and soul. Without them, we wouldn't know how to resemble God or receive His blessings. Through these commandments, we learn to honor God, receive answers to our prayers, and receive blessings along with knowledge on how to attain the most glorious place in heaven. 1 John 3:21-22 says, “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.” I hope you will fully embrace God's commandments with joy and gratitude, not just out of obligation.
May you receive all His promised blessings and become distinguished people who glorify God, and ultimately enter the most glorious heaven.
