Is anyone out there still having trouble keeping commandment no 10?

Question

Some guy on an earlier question pointed out the importance of the Ten Commandments, as if we were all so stupid we actually need someone to say, "Don't kill".

I wondered how many people felt that it was helpful having a commandment not to covet your neighbour's ox or his male slave. IMHO it seems a bit of a waste of a commandment and I can't help wishing that God hadn't thought of "Thou shalt not defile the land you live off" and done his bit to instruct theists to prevent pollution and environmental damage.

So what do you think? Is it good to be reminded not to covet your neighbour's ox or would I have made a better job of being God than God?

Answer 1

Not to mention that No. 10 basically ignores the fact that "coveting" other peoples things drives the economy. My neighbor's got an ox, I want two. He's got a Porsche, I want a Mazzerati. Coveting is what keeps people working, it drives the economic world as we know it. In my opinion, God may have had something with that "Thou shall not steal" but not coveting just seems stupid.

Answer 2

Actually, God thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8, 9) and so when he gave out the 10th Commandment, he did so with a view to promoting and providing peace and stability in the nation of Israel. Today, we see the results of covetousness; crime, violence, scuffles, wars and what have you.

Hence, there is a need to think twice. Presently, Christians follow the Law of Christ, which is, Love of God and Love of neighbor. (Matt. 22: 37- 40) So if we really love God with our whole mind, body and soul; and if we truly love our neighbors as ourselves, then we will not covet his wife, nor his Mercedes Car, nor his Plasma Satellite TV, nor his Wireless Router, nor his servants, nor his cat, nor his sheep, nor his ox. We will ask God for what we really need and work towards it and surely God will provide for us according to his will. Thus, the world will be a better place for all.

Answer 3

So many times I see the 10 commandments used but there are many more than just 10 commandments in the bible.


I am not directing this to just you personally or anything but I have seen other comments about murder and child abuse ect..........it seems to me that theists christains are being blamed for all that is wrong in the world. pollution, murder, child abuse, war, ect...... are you guys telling me that no agnostic or atheist or other , has done these things?

Answer 4

Nah....it's a GOOD Commandment. You see Oxes, and Oxen, and very often I actually see a pretty one, and get all coveteous. Every now and then a see a really well-endowed Male Ox, and I even get jealous.

How did an Orangutan get it's name?

When he swings through the trees, his testicles bang together and go "o-RANG, o-TANG" !

Answer 5

Okay so times have changed but the commandments are still valid,just don`t covet anything belonging to your neighbour and things will be just fine.

Answer 6

He made those commandments for us to obey.More or less laws.
They're all hard.But aparently we have trouble with them still.And see the result!?The more society evolves-the less time satan has-
the more hard it will be.
Sometimes I think people think their smarter than God.Thats why no one thought of prevention before it got this bad.So humans are more or less distroying this planet,and denying it or making excuses for it.When its gone its gone.

Answer 7

What you've just done is make a political comment in the guise of a religious question. You'd probably make a great lawyer.

Answer 8

Obviously we did need to be told not to kill because murders occur everyday. The Commandment to not covert thy neighbor's goods covers all of the people and items you mention.

Answer 9

He included anything that belonged to your neighbor. Wife, ox, car, house, whatever, nowadays. See what problems we have now because of it?

Answer 10

Stupid Flanders and his Ox.