And when this is the case, what joy contentment brings to the Christian life. Every Christian rightly seeks to maintain this mindset. If God thought it was good for us to have more, he would have given us more. Whatever he possessed, it was sufficient, so he could rest content. He knew God’s providence provided what he needed. The Apostle Paul believed in a sovereign God and trusted in this God, who reigns over heaven and earth. He said to Timothy, “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment” (1 Timothy 6:6).
The Apostle Paul said, “I have learned in whatever situation to be content” (Philippians 4:11b). Contentment is not something we chase after, but rest in. If we desire covetousness to have no hold on our lives, we also must seek to live in contentment. His beauty, loveliness, comfort, peace, and joy surpass all this world has to offer. Seeking after Christ is an enterprise unlike any other, it never disappoints.
They offer comfort, but He insures it (Matthew 11:28-30). They possess hollow promises, but His promises are secure. As we seek Him, we find earthly treasures hold fleeting pleasures, but joy in Him is everlasting (Psalm 103:17). Honor, wealth, material possessions, reputation, worldly success, and even health possess little glimmer when compared to the radiance of the glory of God in the person of Christ (Hebrews 1:3). The more we desire Christ, the less we long for the things of this world. The more we value Christ, the less we ascribe inordinate worth to earthly things. “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you,” said the Lord (Matthew 6:33). How do we combat such a sin of the heart? Let me offer three simple biblical encouragements: look to Christ, live in contentment, and rejoice in thankfulness. It has rightly been said that when we break any of the first nine commandments, we also break the tenth commandment. Coveting pulls the heart down into the pit of self-seeking and the muck and mire of envy, slander, adultery, pride, dishonor, murder, thievery, and idolatry. It forsakes love for God and disposes one to hate their neighbor. Coveting relentlessly craves more of this world and a person’s thoughts, affections, and heart occupied with the world will cease seeking heaven. Why is coveting so deadly? Because it can never be satiated. Where there was peace it brings hostility, where there was love it stirs up division, and where there was contentment it breeds complaint. It is an opportunistic and deadly foe, which grips the heart, turns the affections, occupies the mind, and unravels a life. And though this sin is a familiar acquaintance, it is no friend. We do not need to go looking for it or be schooled in it. This enemy raises its evil head in a moment. It surfaces when we hear of a co-worker’s promotion, see a new car in the driveway next door, or reflect upon the seemingly perfect family at church. The sin it strikes at is an all-too familiar companion. “You shall not covet” unreservedly proclaims that our thoughts, feelings, inclinations–matters of the heart–matter a great deal to the Lord. God’s Law does not concern itself with our actions alone. In those few words, the very heart of the Law is laid open to us. The final commandment of the Ten Commandments, “You shall not covet,” stands out from the rest. A person may rationalize they have never murdered, committed adultery, or stolen, however untrue their claim may be, but no person in their right mind would say they have never coveted.
Many individuals are like the Rich Young Man when Jesus said to him, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 19:18-19), readily reply, “All these I have kept” (Matthew 19:20).
0 kommentar(er)
