> General Discussions
Thou shalt not covet
Grateful:
Can anyone tell me what is the difference between thoroughly enjoying a piece or two of Ghirardelli milk chocolate every day, or nearly so, and "lusting after the things of the world"? Am I supposed to give up chocolate in order to rid myself of an enjoyable "habit" (to which I'm not really severelly addicted) ? I've thought about this a good while, and haven't been able to come up with a "Spiritual answer", as I do not feel guilty about enjoying a bit of good chocolate when possible. Soooo, anyone else have any experience with this or other food preferences, as far as "lusting after the things of the world" is concerned? (I've been told by a Fundamentalist Christian, (quoted from the Bible) : "All things in moderation.")
Puzzled,
Linda
hillsbororiver:
Hi Linda,
This verse is probably the one quoted by your friend;
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
If all you were eating was chocolate now that would be intemperate, or if you were taking it from a coworkers lunchbox without asking or spending money on it that instead should be spent on food for a dependent or some other obligation than there would be an issue, but enjoying a tasty snack, don't be troubled by this one bit!
Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Peace,
Joe
Gregor:
Greetings,
Perhaps I should have been more specific. When the tenth commandment says "thou shalt not covet" it isn't saying "thou shalt not act on the desire" - it is saying not to have the desire. Like Ray teaches, we can outwardly keep all other 9 commandments, but the 10th is the kicker. We're all guilty because it goes to the heart of the matter. I am really looking for an answer that distinguishes between the sin of coveting and simply desiring something, or whether the two are one in the same?
--- Quote from: Craig on October 16, 2007, 07:33:21 AM ---Stealing is only one manifestation of the sin you already committed. Iff your neighbor walks next door and gives you the keys and you accept, you still sinned.
Craig
--- End quote ---
Craig, this is the kind of statement that comes closest to answering my question. If I read you right, you're not saying accepting the car would be a sin, but that by desiring it in the first place is the sin?
I just finished reading Matt.6. The verse that struck me the most is vs.[33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Pss.24:1 The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
So if I'm desiring anything other than Christ himself, technically I'm coveting that which belongs to the Lord in the first place. It is His to bless me with, not something for me to pursue. Does this mean that I should feel guilty for "wanting" a piece of chocolate, or a better car, or house etc? Only if that desire preempts my seeking the kingdom, and His righteousness. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof - there's plenty of distractions to pull my eyes off Jesus. Boy do I need a heart transplant - to put on Christ daily, by the minute even.
--- Quote from: M_Oliver on October 16, 2007, 04:16:46 PM ---
--- Quote from: Kat on October 16, 2007, 01:43:57 PM ---Gal 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
v. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
Only by Christ in us are we able to overcome the desires of the flesh.
Gal 5:24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
v. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
--- End quote ---
Can anyone describe what it means to "walk in the Spirit" or "live in the Spirit"? If you are walking in the Spirit what are you doing?? might be the better question.
--- End quote ---
M_Oliver, there's a thread on this exact question(s). It is currently on pg.2.
Peace to all
G.
Grateful:
--- Quote from: hillsbororiver on October 16, 2007, 05:23:08 PM ---Hi Linda,
This verse is probably the one quoted by your friend;
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
If all you were eating was chocolate now that would be intemperate, or if you were taking it from a coworkers lunchbox without asking or spending money on it that instead should be spent on food for a dependent or some other obligation than there would be an issue, but enjoying a tasty snack, don't be troubled by this one bit!
Col 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of a holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
Peace,
Joe
--- End quote ---
O, THANK you for pointing these things out to me, Joe! :D
--- Quote from: Gregor on October 16, 2007, 07:41:45 PM ---Greetings,
Perhaps I should have been more specific.
I just finished reading Matt.6. The verse that struck me the most is vs.[33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Pss.24:1 The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
So if I'm desiring anything other than Christ himself, technically I'm coveting that which belongs to the Lord in the first place. It is His to bless me with, not something for me to pursue. Does this mean that I should feel guilty for "wanting" a piece of chocolate, or a better car, or house etc? Only if that desire preempts my seeking the kingdom, and His righteousness. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof - there's plenty of distractions to pull my eyes off Jesus. /quote]
ooooooo, YESSSSSSSS, Gregor, we DO have PUH-LENTY of distractions that sooooo constantly keep our minds OFF Jesus and our Father!!! In fact, the Buddhists have a term for it : "Monkey Mind" --- meaning that our mind keeps up a chattering alllllll day long, if we LET IT!! I'm guilty of not yet being able to KEEP my mind COMPLETELY FOCUSED on Christ every single nanosecond!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, HOW I HATE that!! (Sorry to use such a strong word, but I so deeply wish I could "Pray without ceasing"!! Could somebody in BT Forums pray for me on that, PLEASE?!! For, I find myself VERY Happy whenever my mind IS resting on Jesus and our Father, or am IN my Father's Arms....)
Have to go now.....I have a hungry husband who wants dinner NOW. ;D
Love to ALL!
Linda
(P.S. I messed up this Email....I didn't know how to get OUT of your Quote, Gregor, and start my last paragraph of this email! Sighhh....I'll LEARN one of these days, soon I hope!)
--- End quote ---
Deborah-Leigh:
Hello Gregor
--- Quote ---Boy do I need a heart transplant - to put on Christ daily, by the minute even.
--- End quote ---
So from the country where the first physical heart transplant was successfully performed by Dr Chris Barnard 8) ..... ;D
Yes we all do need a heart transplant as King David cried Psalms 51 : 10 Create in me a pure heart O God Why ask for a pure heart? Because a pure heart sees God and a pure heart delights in God Psalm 37 ; 4 DELIGHT YOURSELF IN THE LORD AND HE WILL GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR (PURIFIED-BY-GOD) HEART. (Caps for emphasis not shouting or yelling at ANYONE :D )
Grace is GOD'S Divine influence on our HEARTS 8) as we have been edified to know and accept through our teachings via Ray. Quoting Ray : even King David, if God had divine influence on his heart, the way it’s suppose to be, why would he go to his death bed squeaking out his last words to his son, Solomon. Telling him how he wants him to kill all his enemies and make it bloody. Does that sound like divine influence upon your heart, from God? It doesn’t sound like that to me. That’s what grace is, divine - divinity - God - Godly influence on your heart. http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,5417.0.html
We need a lung transplant too and actually a LIFE transplant...HIS LIFE. That is what the conception of His Spirit assures us we will experience. To take from the edifying reminder Joe posted quoting Ray in LOF 12 : ALL THESE THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD
Thankfully, we don’t have to accomplish all these many commands by our own power. God also gives us many promises to be with us in every way necessary to assure our success:
Peace to you
Arcturus :)
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