Editorial December 3, 1979 Issue

Preserving the tenth commandment

NATHAN A. TALBOT

Moses didn't hedge when the time came to spell out rules of behavior for his people. The Ten Commandments were specific. They left no doubt about what was right and wrong. There are times when we need to have rules laid clearly before us. On the whole, people respond to worthy rules. Following them helps bring stability to life. The last commandment, for instance, sets out a law governing a basic mortal instinct—one that needs the discipline of a rule.

The closeness Moses felt to God enabled him to recognize God's will. And His will precludes envy. "Thou shalt not covet"^{Ex. 20:17;} is the way Moses perceived God's guidance for mankind. It is a good rule. When people follow it, they spare themselves the discords that often follow in the wake of envious attitudes. What can we do when we know it's right to be obedient to the rule but we find ourselves feeling covetous or, as is sometimes the case, we become aware of envious attitudes directed toward us?

Christian Science provides the metaphysical tools that show us how to preserve the requirements of this command and how to destroy the attempts of envy to violate it.

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