How Does God's Law Apply to Me? (Crucial Questions)

by R.C. Sproul

We have all distorted the truth at some point in our lives.

But as Christians, we must be careful that we do not participate in the intentional falsification of the claims we make. Even if we bear false witness about good things with good intentions, we are still violating the sanctity of truth.

The ninth commandment not only prohibits perjury, lying, and deception, it especially prohibits slander and destructive gossip.

One way that we see the problem of covetousness is in vandalism. The motive behind vandalism is this: If I can’t afford or own what you have, then you’re not going to enjoy it either. In other words, a vandal seeks to make absolutely certain that no one around him can enjoy anything that he cannot personally enjoy. As in the case of stealing, this reflects a profound self-centeredness and selfishness.

The ethic of Christ tells us that we are to prefer one another above ourselves, which is the exact opposite of covetousness.

Jealousy reflects a heart that does not trust in God and is not satisfied with the hand of God’s providence.