I discovered two nights ago that I have fallen victim to the sin of covetting. Unfortunately (or a blessing in disguise?) I had no idea how to approach irradicating myself from this sin. I don't recall talking in church much about covetting, nor approaching the subject in Bible studies. Even talking with friends didn't really seem to shed any light on how to "not covet."
So, I went to the last place I could think of: The Bible. Should have been the first, I know.
I looked up the word "covet" in the topical index on Biblegalaxy.com. The first reference to this topic was Genesis 3:6 about Eve eating the apple.
"When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it." Genesis 3:6, NIV
Wow...what a verse to start with. The root of covetting starts in the garden: Eve sees an fruit, not just ANY fruit, THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT, and takes it. What's interesting is that there were plenty of legitament reasons to want the fruit: nutrition, looked good, provided something she lacked. And yet it came down to this: God had said no beforehand. Eve just saw the potential of such a fruit. God saw the actual.
Lesson one, for me at least: realizing that so often I see the potential in things I desire, while the Lord sees the big picture. He sees how a person, event, material item fits into the grand scheme of things in His plan for my life. While I only see the immediate, how it looks NOW. So technically NOW it will do fine, but later...what is beyond my understanding...well, we saw what happened to the rest of mankind when Eve lived in the "now".
But covetting goes beyond just desire. It is desiring a specific thing that is not mine and yet I demand and devise how to take it anyway. But why is this so tempting? Why do I want things that are not mine?
My college pastor said that all sin has this root: lack of faith in the Lord. So then I started wondering, where is my lack of faith when I covet? I found 3 main areas:
1. I lack the faith that the Lord knows my needs to fulfill His purpose on this earth. 2. I lack faith that the Lord has currently provided what is necessary for me to live His purupose right now. 3. I lack faith that the Lord will satisfy and provide my needs to fulfill His purpose in the future.
And the overarching lack of faith is this: that God made a mistake when distributing gifts, both spiritual and material, to His people. The video commerical above ended with Sarah Jessica Parker saying, "I had to have it." Apparently God didn't know that SJP would die without the perfume. That's crap. But, how often do I say, "Lord, I had to have it!" when I disobediently attempt to have what was not meant to be mine? If I had to have it, the Lord would have provided, either by prompting someone else, giving it Himself, or prompting me in a way that was honoring Him and keeping in line with His commandments.
So identifying these pitfalls has allowed me to search the Scriptures for both promises, warnings and encouragments in my Spirit-filled fight against covetedness. I pray that these verses help arm you as well if you ever find yourself in this battle.
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." - Hebrews 13:5
People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. - 1 Timothy 6:9
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. - Psalm 90:14
You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made. - Psalm 145:16-17
The fear of the Lord leads to life: then one rests content, untouched by trouble. - Proverbs 19:23
The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your fram. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails. - Isaiah 58:11
There are certain colloquial phrases that belong to children:
"Redo!" "Why?" "Nuh-uh" "I'm going to tell my dad" etc.
The one that comes to mind tonight is: "AM NOT!!"
This phrase is often said in response to some lame kid calling you some lame name, or ascribing some negative attribute to you that, in your opinion, isn't true. Or accuses you of something that you'd rather not be accused of.
Tonight, I have this overwhelming urge to rebuke the lies from Satan, my head, and my heart, using this powerful youthful phrase. So here goes:
You are a mistake...AM NOT! You are a whore...AM NOT! You are a slave to your habitual downfalls...AM NOT! You are unworthy of love...AM NOT! You are a waste of time...AM NOT! You are a selfish brat who cares only about herself...AM NOT! You are a disappointment to the Lord...AM NOT! You are a disappointment to your parents...AM NOT! You are too bold, too outspoken, and too lively for anyone to handle...AM NOT! You are consumed with the spotlight...AM NOT! You are too analytical...AM NOT! You are too much of a sinner to ever be used for good..AM NOT! You are destined to be ineffective...AM NOT! You are a loser...AM NOT! You are a fake...AM NOT! You are a hypocrite...AM NOT! You are living a lie...AM NOT! You are without self-control..AM NOT! You are too impatient, which is why good things never come...AM NOT! You are weak...AM NOT! You are foolish...AM NOT! You are beyond hope...AM NOT!!!!
Take that Satan! And if you try it again, I'm going to tell my Dad!
