89. How do we fear and love God in keeping the ninth and tenth commandments?
First, we fear and love God by not coveting the gifts that He has given to our neighbor. This includes
A. not plotting to acquire our neighbor's possessions in a way that appears proper or legal (see also the Seventh Commandment);
Isaiah 5:8 Woe to those who join house to house, who add field to field, until there is no more room, and you are made to dwell alone in midst of the land.
Micah 2:1-2 Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in the power of their hand. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.
B. not plotting to lure away our neighbor's friends, spouse, or employees (or turn them against our neighbor).
Ephesians 5:3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
Read about how David coveted Bathsheba, Uriah's wife, in 2 Samuel 11:2-4 and about how Absalom estranged the hearts of the people from David in 2 Samuel 15:1-6.
Second, we fear and love God by being satisfied with what God has provided us and others. This includes
A. being thankful for all that God has given us;
Hebrews 13:5-6 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?"
Read Proverbs 30:8-9; 1 Timothy 6:8-10; and Philippians 4:11-13.
B. helping others to retain what God has given them and encouraging their spouse and workers to remain faithful and loyal.
Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Eventual commentary
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