With a maiden name like Jones, I have often heard the term, “keeping up with the Jones.” I have always been baffled by that remark. I grew up without many of my wants. Make no mistake, I was truly blessed with my needs. I wondered who would want to try to keep up and mimic a life, without all your wants? My thinking was a before Jesus was in my life question, from a young mind.
Merriam-Webster definition: Covet is to want (something that you do not have) very much.
Thinking of all the years we work to have more things. We toil. Constantly seeking more things? But, have we taken care of the one most important thing? There are a lot of studies about coveting. When I started this study my mind was set to write about material coveting. As often happens, I was diverted to another thought.
What would the world be like this morning, if we were found guilty of coveting Jesus? The synonyms of covet tell a wonderful story of what I personally have found to be the case, for those who covet a relationship with Jesus and all that He offers. Do we ache, desire, are willing to die for, hunger after, pant after, thirst for Jesus? Like we do jobs, fame, money, cars, clothes, jewelry? Whoa!
Father! Is that what you were trying to tell us with that tenth commandment? Did You know that we would be encapable of following that commandment? Did You know we would allow ourselves to be pulled to coveting everything but a relationship with the coming Messiah? I believe He did. We waste so many years seeking after things, instead of seeking the one thing that can satisfy completely. Would trust and the relationship also bring the things we need and perhaps some wants along life’s way? God provided the needs of His wandering children day after day. Their desire for more and better caused them to forfeit reaching their destination and a forty-year delay in their children reaching the Promised Land.
Thought For Today:
I know believers who spent ninety plus years coveting nothing but Jesus. I am confident they walked through the eye of the needle into heaven. No baggage. Carried nothing with them. Only their love of Jesus. Their secret? You cannot out give God. They lived their lives loving, aching for, desiring, and thirsting after a life long relationship with Christ. They gave more than they made and God blessed them with more material wealth than they needed. They left excess behind. The eye of a needle? It is not that rich people cannot go to heaven. What does it mean? What we do with Jesus while living a rich life makes the difference? The riches mean nothing without a relationship with Jesus. Riches alone will not get us into heaven. The only thing that we carry to heaven with us is Jesus. Society tells us an abundance of money and things make us rich. Gets us in a lot of doors. Puts us in the “in” group. Gives us power. All of that is only temporary. It holds no status at the gates of heaven. If we have our needs this morning…we are richer than seventy-five percent of the world. Not our wants…Our needs.
Everything falls into place when we covet Jesus first. This was not an issue for these beloved people who taught us so much about God’s business. Just two hearts, coveting a relationship with Jesus. If we are still breathing, we can restart. We can exchange coveting material things for a coveted relationship with Jesus. Might be pretty exciting to see what happens next.
Scripture For Today:
Exodus 20:17
17 “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.” (NLT)
Matthew 19:24
24 I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” (NLT)
Prayer For Today:
Hello Father! We pray that we seek only after the things that last. Eternal things. A relationship with Your Son, that will bring us home one day. Until that day we pray for Your grace, mercy and forgiveness. We pray that our needs are met each day. Forgive us of our sins. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
©2015 Kathy Ledbetter. All rights reserved.
Lovely prayer!