Wanting What You Have
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor” (Deuteronomy 5:21).
A spiritual seeker interrupted a busy life to spend a few days in a monastery. “I hope your stay is a blessed one,” said the monk who showed the guest to his cell. “If you need anything, let us know, and we’ll teach you how to live without it.” Easier said than done, right?!
The world in which we live finds us in constant warfare between contentment and covetousness. Happy or hungry? God-satisfied or gold seeking? Relaxed with what you have … or restless for more and more and more? Achan, the actor, is a good example.
Jericho had fallen to Israel. The loot of battle was to be the LORD’s. But with bulging eyeballs Achan took garments along with the gold. Why? When caught Achan gave the answer, “I coveted them and took them” (Joshua 7:21). Achan desired his stash more than fellowship with God. There is no difference between the Hebrew word for desire and the Hebrew word for covet. Coveting means you desire something too much. You measure that too much by how that desiring compares to desiring God. If your want for the new Cadillac, country home, or train set, leads you away from God rather than closer to God - you have an Achan heart!
How might one truly, in Christ, be satisfied with what she or he has both in him and in this world? Well, begin where Joshua begged Achan to start when he was found out, “My son, give glory to the LORD God” (Joshua 7:19). Review the great wealth that is already yours by faith in Christ. Eternally loved, dwelling place in heaven, forever friend, promised presence, fully forgiven … all these and more actually help you with Paul “…count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). When one truly adores Jesus for his grace one tends to want what they have, even if one gains nothing more.
In a popular MASH episode, a grinning Hawkeye reminds Radar, “It isn’t necessary to be rich and famous to be happy. It’s only necessary to be rich.” If you let it, the sarcasm makes you smile, but the irony is in Christ it is true. Topple your idols. Clear out the covetousness. Refresh your heart by assessing the incredible wealth you already have in Jesus. What joy will be yours then when you look at all your blessings and can honestly conclude, “You know what? If I got nothing more I can honestly say, ‘It’s enough. I want what I have.’”
Desiring contentment in Christ with you by his grace,
Pastor Tim (1-210-837-3934)
