What is Materialism or Coveting in 21st Century Terms?
Do you remember the 10th of the Ten Commandments? Almost all of us have learned these words at one time or another. Why not repeat the 10th commandment with me now:
Exodus 20:17 (NKJV): “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
In 21st Century terms, God is saying to watch out for six dangerous desires that can ruin your life, destroy your eternal legacy, and pierce you through with many pains:
• “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.”
Don’t long for all the bigger, better, more beautiful, spacious, comfortable houses you’ve seen and don’t have.
Don’t wish for it, or get a second job to earn more money for it, or spend all your time looking for it: because that is idolatry!
Be content with the house you have, and use all your extra time to serve Me, says the Lord, instead of longing for a bigger and better house.
• “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife”.
Men, that means don’t long for all the externally looking prettier, skinnier, younger women you’ve noticed in life. Women, that means don’t long for the stronger, more handsome, kinder, more caring, more athletic, and in shape men that you have noticed along the way.
Don’t wish you had one like the ones you see at work or read about, and don’t wish you had one like you see on TV, in movies, or online.
Don’t wish she looked like a gymnast, or a cheerleader, or an actress/model, or he looked like an athlete, or a movie star or a model: because that is idolatry!
Be content with the husband or wife God has given you; and use your extra time to serve your wife or your husband, and children instead of longing for a better marriage partner.
• “You shall not covet your neighbor’s male servant, nor his female servant”.
Don’t long for a more comfortable life with less hard work, with fewer struggles and cares, and with more free time to do what you please, like all the rich and the famous you’ve watched, and heard about: because that is idolatry!
Be content with the place in life where God has put you, and use your extra time to live more of each day for His glory, and surrender for His will to be done in your life.
• “You shall not covet your neighbor’s ox” [his plow animal or job].
Don’t long for that dream job that everyone else has, with all the freedom, perks, security, and high pay like you’ve seen or heard about, because that is idolatry!
Be content with what God has placed into your hands to do for Him, trust Him to guide your path, use your extra time to stay tuned into His Word, and follow God’s leading, and you will have the very best job in life that is possible to have.
• “You shall not covet your neighbor’s donkey” [his transportation].
Saying no to Coveting Anything
We must not find our joy in things, our satisfaction in things, our hope in things.
Greed is an attitude that is demonstrated in both actions: POSSESSIVENESS (selfishness with what we have) and attitudes: COVETOUSNESS (longing for what we don’t have).
So 2 Peter 3:11 (NKJV) gives us the first lesson from Peter on How to live for things in life that won’t ever get burned up and be forever lost.
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
(ROK-03b)
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