A man can receive nothing [he can claim nothing, he can take unto himself nothing] except as it has been granted to him from heaven. [A man must be content to receive the gift which is given him from heaven; there is no other source.] ~John 3:27 (AMPCE)
How often do we find ourselves comparing who we are or what we have to others? We might not think we do it too often, but God knows us better than we know ourselves and He thought the issue was so important He put it in the Ten Commandments. In Exodus 20:17 we read the 10th Commandment “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (NIV) Covetousness is just a big 50 cent word that means to want what someone else has. It’s an unholy desire. The bible talks about holy desires also in 1 Corinthians 12:31 where the Lord tells us “eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.” (NIIV) That most excellent way is love. Jesus commanded us to love one another multiple times in the New Testament and there is no way we can love others and covet what they have. The Lord says where there is jealousy and envy there is every other evil work; that is why He wants us to covet the desire to love more than anything else. Loving God and loving others will always help us to keep our priorities in check.
Being covetous causes us to compare ourselves to others also. It speaks of what we want and what we deserve and then it begins to settle in and causes us to be ungrateful for what we have. Ungratefulness is the root of many downfalls because it stems from a spirit of pride and the Lord says pride always comes before a fall. The Lord is stern when it comes to us being obedient in this area. He says in Hebrews 3:15 “Today when you hear His voice, don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled.” (NLT) A covetous, greedy, and ungrateful heart opens the door for the enemy to step in with even more deception. We don’t know what is going on in another person’s heart, neither have we walked in their shoes. All we have is our own limited perspective. Looking at others and wishing we had what they have, no matter what it is, reveals heart conditions that must be dealt with. Included in those heart conditions is discontentment which the enemy brings into our lives in the subtlest of ways. When we start focusing on what others have that we want, whether it be their possessions, talents, or seemingly perfect relationships, we lose sight of who God created us to be and what we have been given. Then it doesn’t take long before we lose our joy because we become “self” focused and that is just no way for a believer to live. Selfishness never brings contentment; it makes us miserable. In 1 Timothy 6:6 God tells us “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” (KJV) Contentment takes the pressure off and allows us to be thankful people. Our contentment compliments God. It tells the world we trust in Him and His love for us. We never shine brighter to a dark world than when we are expressing our thankfulness to God for all He does in our lives every day. It's time we rooted out the covetousness, jealousy, discontentment, ungratefulness, and selfishness in our lives because there is no "gain" in them. Trust God to provide all you need and to make you everything you need to be in His perfect timing!
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
What do you struggle with most...discontentment? ungratefulness? jealousy?
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