Heidelberg Catechism Week 44

113. Q. What is God's will for you in the tenth commandment? A. That not even the slightest thought or desire contrary to any one of God's commandments should ever arise in my heart. Rather, with all my heart I should always hate sin and take pleasure in whatever is right.

114. Q. But can those converted to God obey these commandments perfectly? A. No. In this life even the holiest have only a small beginning of this obedience. Nevertheless, with all seriousness of purpose, they do begin to live according to all, not only some, of God's commandments.

115. Q. No one in this life can obey the Ten Commandments perfectly: why then does God want them preached so pointedly? A. First, so that the longer we live the more we may come to know our sinfulness and the more eagerly look to Christ for forgiveness of sins and righteousness. Second, so that, while praying to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, we may never stop striving to be renewed more and more after God's image, until after this life we reach our goal: perfection.

My reflections on the reading from the book...

Coveting, the issue covered in the 10th Commandment, is essentially idolatry. DeYoung distinguishes coveteousness from desire: "One of two things must be present for a lawful desire to become coveting. First, we covet when we desire what belongs to someone else... Or we can covet when our desire leads to or is an expression of discontentment." DeYoung goes on to state, "Contentment and covetousness are opposites." I confess I struggle a lot with contentment. My Wednesday morning breakfast friends and I have just started reading Jeremiah Burrough's classic book The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, and it is already proving to be a convicting read. No, I will never achieve perfection in this earthly life, but God wants my heart united to fear His name. May I give Him my whole heart and refuse to hold back in any area!