I must say this year's Love Singapore booklet has given me much food for thought. It's hits the mark several times for me. Its not too late for you to start reading along, too. If you do not have the booklet, you can go to the website and read online at http://www.lovesingapore.org.sg/
The first 4 weeks have dealt with the 10 commandments and how we have done in obeying them. This is taken from the 24th July entry, commandmant no. 10 - Do not covet. I thought it particularly important because the environment around us so easily and subtlely influences the way we think and tells us what we want. How do we guard against this? I hope you will take some time to reflect on this.
God bless,
Jere
Exodus 20
17 “You shall not covet
your neighbor’s house.
You shall not covet
your neighbor’s wife,
or his manservant or
maidservant, his ox or
donkey, or anything
that belongs to your
neighbor.”
James 4
1 What causes fights and
quarrels among you?
Don’t they come from
your desires that battle
within you? 2 You want
something but don’t get
it. You kill and covet, but
you cannot have what
you want. You quarrel
and fight. You do not
have, because you do
not ask God. 3 When you
ask, you do not receive,
because you ask with
wrong motives, that you
may spend what you get
on your pleasures.
Matthew 13
22The one who received
the seed that fell among
the thorns is the man
who hears the word, but
the worries of this life
and the deceitfulness of
wealth choke it, making
it unfruitful.
Ephesians 5
5For this you know
with certainty, that no
immoral or impure
person or covetous
man, who is an idolater,
has an inheritance in the
kingdom of Christ and
God. [NASB]
Colossians 3
5…Don’t be greedy, for
a greedy person is an
idolater, worshiping the
things of this world. 6
6Because of these sins,
the anger of God is
coming. [NASB]
It’s what keeps the advertising industry afloat.
It’s the force that compels you to upgrade endlessly — from
buying the latest mobile phones, to the quest for a more
exclusive address. Covetousness lusts after what others
have. Covetousness is hard to satisfy and even harder to
tame.
Covetousness truly sets in motion a vicious cycle. James
says that covetousness springs from evil desires within.
There is literally a war deep inside us, as the desire to
possess more for self drowns out the voice of God. And this
civil war of the soul manifests itself as competition, envy,
jealousy, tearing apart relationships.
Now of course, we can simply go to God and ask for what
we want. But deep inside, you know that we are hankering
after things that are not right. Our own greed convicts us.
And so we have no choice but to pursue those carnal wants
outside of God’s provision; which in turn exposes us to more
worldly influences.
So what is the root of covetousness?
Simply this: Selfishness. A heart seeking selfish gain.
An obsession for more than is legitimate or needful.
Covetousness often starts as discontent. We are ungrateful
for what we’re already blessed with. We are unhappy with
our current lifestyle. We crave for what others have.
What are the consequences of covetousness? We have
previously reflected on the parable of the sower.
A seed cannot grow on a stone. Similarly, a seed cannot
grow among thorns. And Jesus warns that the deceitfulness
of riches is like thorns that will choke the work of God in
your life. Thorns will compete with the sapling for air, water,
sunlight, eventually killing the plant.
Q: Are you discontented? Do you envy others and often wish
you have what they have? Are you a compulsive shopper,
always grabbing and getting for self rather than giving to
others? Are you jealous when others get a pay raise or a
promotion? Henry Ward Beecher says: In this world, it is not what we take up, but what we give up that makes us rich. Cry out to God for deliverance from covetousness which is idolatry! [EPHESIANS 5:5, COLOSSIANS 3:5]. Break the deception. Stop the downward spiral of this vicious cycle today.
His Word is Life. Pray the Word:
Hebrews 13: 5 Keep your lives free from the love of money
and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Luke 12: 15Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds
of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of
his possessions.
Matthew 6: 20But store up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where
thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure
is, there your heart will be also.
Covetousness is the basic reason for the existence of
glitzy gambling resorts the world over. In the authority of
Jesus’ name, war against covetousness [which is idolatry]
here in Singapore. Cry out to God to save our land. Plead:
in wrath, remember mercy. [HABAKKUK 3:2]
Covetousness is not limited to material things. It could
be spiritual — such as when we covet the “magic touch”
of a specially gifted church volunteer; or wish we had the
chemistry and favour that a new church staff enjoys with
top leadership. Repent now before the spirit of competition
pollutes you and your work environment.
