To Covet

To Covet

0:00

Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! Psalm 119:36 (ESV)

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2 (ESV)

To Covet:  A desire to want something or someone that belongs to another. A strong and sometimes jealous desire for something and/or someone that is not rightfully yours.

Throughout the Bible, God speaks of covetousness and wanting what your neighbor has, and you do not. It is written many times within the 10 Commandments where God says Do not covet. Why did God say this? He knows His children and their human mind and desires very well. All of us to some degree have a desire to obtain what we do not already possess, whether it’s looks, money, power, societal position, relationships, etc. Of course, it is natural to want objects and relationships that one does not currently have however, the problem develops when wrongful intent, that turns into jealous desire, causes one to do whatever it takes, to possess the object of one's covetousness.

God says this in Luke 12:15, “And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” A few verses later in Luke, 12:20-21 it says, “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” God is making it clear that constant fussing and striving for possessions, is not the reason He has placed us here on this Earth. Rather than wasting time pining after material possessions or trying to keep up with others and what they have, our focus needs to be on what is important in life. We only have one life to live, and God placed us here to make a positive impact on this world. As you read on in verses 22-23 of the same chapter, God encourages us to look beyond just our material possessions and our physical needs, the verses state life is more than food and the body more than the clothes it wears.

Unfortunately, we live in a society (in the United States and other parts of the world), where it has been drummed into our minds that it's all about personal pleasure: what I want, what pleases me, what makes me happy. It encourages people to do what it takes to have material possessions and relationships that are not built on biblical principles. And God made it clear in the verses above that this is not wise because one does not know when their time here on earth is over. And all the toiling to obtain these possessions will go to someone else to enjoy.

As we move forward in life, rather than storing up possessions for ourselves here on earth, we should be seeking to establish and build up our relationship with God. In Luke 12:30-31, God states, “For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. And finally, in Luke 12:34 God states, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’  I pray that our ultimate focus will be to understand the true meaning of life, which is to do the will of our Father in Heaven.

Blessings,

Angélique

To contact:  21stcglmediateam@gmail.com