The tenth commandment pertains to what may be the most corrupting characteristic of every human society: our propensity to measure ourselves in comparison with others. It is one thing for some people to have more and others less, but it is quite another thing to create class systems based on abundance and quality of possessions. The idea of status and class arises from our propensity to measure ourselves by our neighbour. Possessions in human society have become a symbol of status. And this kind of status demeans some people at the expense of others. The answer is not to prohibit private property. The commandment clearly allows for this. The answer is for each person to accept their lot with contentment, humility and a sense of responsibility. Some people have more than you and they are responsible for what they have. Jesus’ parable of the ‘talents’ (Matthew 25:14-30) shows that God gives more to some and less to others, but he also therefore expects more from those to whom he gave more. Don’t wish for the lot of another. I recently heard of a wise parental reply to a child’s complaint of unfair treatment: “I love you all equally, but I treat you differently.” We are all different; we have different capacities, different problems, different opportunities and different life journeys. It therefore makes sense that God will not treat us all in the same way. By different capacities different people accumulate different measures of wealth. And each person’s life is measured by God according to their capacities. He loves us all equally, but he treats us differently. Be content with who God made you to be.
Reflect on these things and examine your heart.
Read Exodus 20:17 and Matthew 25:14-30
