I inwardly squirm when I read the shalt not commandments.

I visualize the doctor telling me not to use salt. Instantly, I feel slighted and want to shake that table salt-shaker for all it is worth!

God gives two lists.

One has imaginary header reading ‘Do’ and the other ‘Do not.’ I am not free to disregard any of his commandments.

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbour’s (Exodus 20: 17 KJV).”

‘Covet’

I don’t often think on that shalt not. We have boundaries. I know that it is sinful to want what belongs to another. Bringing the terms up to current wording I sense that they cover material things as shelter, marriage sanctity, workforce and animals. What’s his or hers is theirs for keeps.

Let this not be said of thee or me…

“He coveteth greedily all the day long (Proverbs 21:26a KJV).”