When Jesus, the True Teacher in the School of Holiness, gives me a lesson, I know it is not meant for my heart alone. God expects me to share what He teaches me.
As soon as you learn the 10 Commandments, you learn that coveting is wrong:
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 [donkey], nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. Exodus 20:17
The dictionary.com definition of covetousness is, "eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth or possessions: Social media so often encourages us to compare ourselves to others, inspiring covetousness and insecurity." (That last sentence really makes the definition sink in.)
But is it all that serious to covet what someone else has? Really think about it for a few minutes. What does wanting what someone else has lead to? Jealousy, discontent, hatred, resentment, anger, and greed. Just like any sin, if not dealt with and allowed to fester, it can cause serious spiritual and physical harm to yourself and to others. What can these feelings evolve to: anger at God, division between you and friends/family (sometimes permanently), thefts, affairs, and in extreme cases murder.
When you focus too much on what you think you lack and what the other person has, you start to lose your love for people and your compassion for them. All you can see is their fancy house, large bank account, good health, etc. What you fail to see are their heart and soul. Is that person living in a house three times the size of yours, driving new vehicles, and never wanting for things truly happy? Do they buy and buy to cover their loneliness? Do they take drugs, get drunk, have sex outside of marriage, etc. because they are trying to fill an empty void? Are they in danger of hell because they refuse to surrender to God and let His peace take over their mind and actions?
Even when we struggle with poverty, what we consider imperfect looks, or any type of infirmity, we need to not care about what is in another person's bank account, what they look like, or if they are in perfect health. We need to let compassion for their emotional and especially their spiritual state overtake our feelings of envy for what they outwardly have. When all we see when we look at other people are the things we want, rather than what people are going through, we displease the Lord.
Notice in the below verse that Jesus Himself says covetousness is as wicked as murder and blasphemy! I believe it is because we often fail to love the person we are jealous of, and Jesus continually commands us to love. You may say you don't actually hate the person you envy, but can you truly love someone you are resenting?
And he saith unto them, "Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man." Mark 7:18-23
Now let's look at the definition of compassion, also from dictionary.com, "a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering."
Wow! That definition beautifully sums up what Jesus wants us to feel for everyone. When you are feeling jealous of someone do you really "desire to alleviate the suffering" of that same person? Rather than coveting what the other person has, we need to have compassion for what he or she is going through. Do not let your eyes be so green with envy that it blurs your vision to the point where you can no longer see when another person might be suffering.
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 1 Peter 3:8
It is so easy to say see success from Hollywood's ungodly point of view that says money buys happiness, sex, and lots of material possessions. Instead, we need to see people from Jesus' point of view. Are these people happy? How many wealthy people commit suicide because possessions cannot bring peace ? How many beautiful people hate themselves because they cannot see themselves through the loving eyes of Jesus Christ? How many award-winning athletes are getting drunk or taking drugs to numb the pains of their past? How many people, no matter their economic status, or what they look like are suffering day to day because they do not understand that God washes them clean of sin and guilt and can bring them True joy when they live for Him and Him alone? These people do not need our cold-hearted covetousness! They need our love, compassion, and prayers! They need us to get over our own egos long enough to remember that the gospel of Jesus Christ matters more than any material possession, more than good looks, even more than perfect health! When you realize their rejection of Jesus is sending them to hell, your compassion should increase ten-fold. You need to remember to share the True gospel with all people, no matter how put together he or she may seem!
We need strive to be like Jesus in every way we can, but especially in the area of love and compassion. The opposite of the topic of this blog is true as well, and we need to see ALL people as being in need of God's love and forgiveness and never refuse to share Jesus with those you arrogantly may think are not worthy of you time! Regardless of status "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). We need to minister to the successful as well as those who are more obviously hurting such as the homeless, drunk, mentally ill, etc. After all, the inner turmoil of the rich and the poor are not so different and we all need Jesus Christ as our personal Savior!
Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. Acts 10:34
Jesus' own words repeatedly tell us to love one another, but I will end with this blog with a verse in Ephesians written by Paul. It is a good reminder of my previous statement above that I believe we often fail to love the person we are jealous of, and Jesus continually commands us to love. You may say you don't actually hate the person you envy, but can you truly love someone you are resenting?
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing [merciful & understanding] one another in love. Ephesians 4:2
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