cov . et
to desire (what belongs to another) inordinately or culpably
to feel inordinate desire for what belongs to another
Why am I writing about coveting?
Because I need this lesson just as much as anyone else, and probably more so. I struggle with coveting and it is a costly thing to let take root in my life.
First, I want to point straight to God's Word on the matter, in one of His Ten Commandments:
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's."
Exodus 20:17
I can get into more theology in other posts, but for now I am sure that God's Ten Commandments are just as critical for children of God today as they were when Moses received them from God. Scriptures regarding coveting continue:
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
James 4:1-3
Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers, but the root of righteous bears fruit.
Proverbs 12:12
There we have it.
From my own experience and God's Word, I've gathered at least four costs of coveting:
1. Coveting disregards God's divine plan for our lives
When we desire someone else's house, career, vacations, family, whatever it may be, we can easily consider that God has given us the short end of the stick. But the Creator of the universe, and each and every one of us, knows what He is doing with your life. He loves you. He cares for you. By nurturing trust in Him and focusing on His Word, the cost of coveting doesn't stand a chance. Let's not disregard God's beautiful plan, even if we feel sold short. We must turn our gaze back to our heavenly Father, not to our neighbor's new whatever.
2. Coveting diverts our attention from where we are and what we already have
I'll be the first one to raise my hand when someone asks who struggles with coveting and comparison. I have to pray against it because I want to wholly trust in God's plan for my life and to constantly nurture the habit of gratitude.
When we covet, or compare, our attention is immediately taken away from where we are in the moment and what we already have. When I know someone who is living an idyllic life in an idyllic place, the cost of coveting is evident. It distracts me and deflates me.
But then God gives me His gentle helping hand to look around and really see all that I have. He will do the same for you. The practice of thanking God for what He has given you and where He was placed you is a life saver. Gratitude is the antidote to coveting and comparison. There, I said it! So I pray that whenever you or I begin to covet and compare, that we pray for God's Spirit to show us what we have to be grateful for right where we are. And what we have and where we are is good because God is good. This I am sure of.
3. Coveting might not take into consideration what it took to get what we are coveting
Did that sentence confuse anyone? It might have confused me so let me clarify! Haha. As Proverbs 12:12 says, "Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers, but the root of righteous bears fruit." Let's say we covet the ritzy home of a stranger. What if that homeowner got his fortune through criminal acts? Would that make us feel good about their ill-gotten, ritzy home? Not for me and I imagine not for you either.
4. Coveting doesn't consider the soul of the person whose stuff or status we are coveting
Ooof, this is a heavy one for me. Think about it...
When we are coveting, we are so focused on wanting what that person HAS rather than who they ARE. They have a soul just like us. They have their battles, they're just different battles. When we catch ourselves coveting, I pray that the Holy Spirit will convict us and direct us into prayer for that person. I pray that coveting be eradicated from our hearts and minds. May we turn to others with genuine care and love, rather than let coveting keep us from the critical task of loving our neighbors.
Heavenly Father,
For myself writing and for those reading, please lead us by Your Holy Spirit, to love our neighbors and to not covet our neighbors. By Your mighty power Father, we break the spirit of coveting in our hearts, souls, and minds. Help us to have hearts and eyes wide open to acknowledge, with great joy, the many blessings You have already given us, in this moment and in this place, and every day. Help us to always trust You with our lives, especially with our troubles and the seemingly mundane. Lead us always to love our neighbors with Your pure love and for Your glory.
In Jesus' mighty name,
Amen
Let's get out there and love everybody!
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