By Pastor Mike
“Thou Shalt Not Covet”
Do you covet? Most would say, “not really” or “not too often. But I wonder how in tune we are with the presence of this subtle sin?
Even when we recognize its presence in our hearts, how quick are we to minimize its gravity? It seems we will more readily admit to any of the other moral transgressions than we will to a covetous heart. We have the ability to dismiss the sinfulness of coveting with a shrug of the shoulders, while God, on the other hand, has placed its warning as a part of his centerpiece of moral prohibitions in the Ten Commandments.
Christians would be wise to learn to hate coveting as much as God does. It would behoove those making a claim to godliness to ferret out those insidious and unstated feelings of displeasure about someone else’s prosperity, intelligence or beauty the way we would the temptation to murder or commit armed robbery. We would do well to declare war on our inability to honestly rejoice in the blessings of others without the fleshly addendum of “I wish I had that,” or “I’m not sure she deserves it.”
God told his people to be content with what they have and to rejoice with those who rejoice not only because it honors his holy character, but also because it has profound benefits for those who obey. As we learn to grieve over our covetous hearts and cry out to God in repentance, we will find a multitude of insidious effects remedied. We might see that coveting is in fact the cause of a hundred lesser evils in our lives. We might discover afresh that a war on coveting is one of the best things we could do for our progress in sanctification.
So let’s get honest about its presence and serious about its eradication. And let us look forward to the blessings that come from a heart undefiled by an enslavement to wanting what we don’t have.
It is fascinating to me that people in general believe they “deserve” or are “owed” certain things, while at the same time questioning why others have the things they have. As I thought about the words in this blog I realized that it goes even beyond material items. Coveting also creeps into our thoughts about our own Christian walk and our roles in the local church. Consider the exchange between Jesus and Peter in John 21:18-23:
“I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”
Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
So, whether we are coveting material items or how God treats others compared to us, let’s seriously consider what Pastor Mike has challenged us to do concerning coveting. I love Pastor Mike’s last line: “So let’s get honest about its presence and serious about its eradication.”
This blog is an excellent reminder for all of us, and one we probably need to hear on a regular basis. I remember your message in Hebrews, specifically, Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” We live in culture that constantly preaches that we should be dissatisfied with our lot in life……we are called to be content and thankful for the grace God has provided for us, AND if he gives us nothing else but his grace we should be the most content people on the planet!
Thanks for the covetiing reminder! That little boy looking at the ice cream( is that coveting?)I think I did that yesterday after I had a sandwich at El Pollo Loco, I stared just like that little boy at a dipped in yummy choc sauce ice cream cone! Boy though that is a simple analogy to what is in the heart, I am guilty before others and more so before the Lord.
I read an aricle today about how women are measured by their kitchens and how they have been refurbished, with countertops of granite and tile etc..and that if they didnt have an island in their kitchen they couldnt survive somehow . The women in the article had the ” keeping up with the Jones” mentality. It is coveting in its worse form. From Sundays message from pastor De Courcy I was reminded to be content in all things because we know that God is perfectly in control of all things and circumstance in our life, and because of His Sovereign reign in our hearts I can live with contentment and peace( an can do without coveting in my life). Thanks for the blog, huge reminder! Isa. 26:3
Pastor Mike, way to absolutely nail a point that we so often overlook. I know it was definitely convicting for me and a great reminder that we can so easily let the sin of desiring more for ourselves or believing we “deserve” things to creep into our mentality. I know I’m definitely gonna make it a point to get “serious about its eradication.” Thanks for the biblical reminder!!!
WHEN JOSEPH ASKED THE BUTLER TO TRY AND GET HIM OUT OF PRISON BECAUSE HE WANTED OUT OF THERE, HE WAS HOPING FOR SOMETHING BETTER BUT I BELIEVE HE WAS CONTENT WITH WHATEVER GOD’S SOVEREIGN WILL WAS TO BE.
BUT, PERHAPS, IT WAS COVETING???
Godliness with contentment is great gain. I think one of the best things in life is to be content with whatever God gives you. If we accept in faith that whatever God has given us in this life is for our perfectness and the best for us, then covetousness cannot reign in our hearts. I think that the the key to peacefullness. Be content with whatever you have, and believe in your heart that God is in control and will bless me according to His will. Dont be in the competition with others, but rejoice in the Lord and give your life over to him, and you will be content and not worry bout what others have. God is the righteous judge, so if someone is not deserving of what they have, or have obtained it through shiftiness or dishonesty, God will judge them. Be content.