Scriptures: Exodus 20:17, 1 Timothy 6:9-10, 17-19, Luke 12:15, Ecclesiastes 5:10, 19, Hebrews 13:5, Philippians 4:11, Proverbs 11:25

Somebody has called the tenth commandment 'the unenforceable commandment'--you shall not covet or be jealous. You could be breaking this commandment right now and nobody would ever know it. How could they prove it? What is so unusual about this commandment that makes it different from all the others is that it goes straight to the heart. God gave this commandment to let us know that He requires not only outward obedience, but inward obedience. Dr. Merritt uses this message to explain how we can develop a heart that is free from jealously, is genuinely happy for the prosperity of others, and is grateful for what God has blessed us with.

"Covetousness is evidence of an ungrateful heart. Instead of coveting someone else's house, be grateful for your house. Instead of coveting another man's wife, be grateful for your wife. Instead of coveting another person's car, be grateful for the car you have to drive. When you covet what someone else has, you are really telling God that you are displeased with what He has given you. What we all need to learn to do is this--we need to learn to admire without having to acquire." --Dr. Merritt

Keywords: law, God, commandments, guidelines, tenth, ten, honesty, desire, lust, jealous, covet, Moses, Mt. Sinai, tablets, homeland, security