"You will never have enough till you get Christ; but when you have him, you will be full to the brim. Contentment is the peculiar jewel of the beloved of the Lord Jesus." - Charles Spurgeon
When God gave the Ten Commandments, we notice that the last one is different from all the rest. It's about an attitude, not an action that is noticed by others: It says we are not to covet. Ignoring this commandment may have something to do with the breaking of many of the others. People can want something so much they are willing to steal, lie, or even kill to get it.
When a ruler of Israel came to Jesus asking how he could have eternal life, he boasted that he had kept all the commandments. Jesus didn't argue with him. He simply told him to sell his possessions and give the money to the poor. Hearing this, the man was disheartened and sorrowful (Mark 10:22). His reaction showed the commandment he was not willing to keep was the one against coveting - wanting more, not less. We've all been there at some point.
Coveting is not always about things. Sometimes it's about reputation, status, or relationships. And it's dangerous: Coveting steals our contentment and replaces it with bitterness, resentment, and even hatred. Above all, coveting separates us from God and creates stress.
Luther says the cure for coveting is trading our worldly desires for holy desires. In other words, we have to look at what really matters: We have God's love. He will never leave us. We have work to do in his kingdom. We have a glorious eternity. We already have what matters most. And contentment is the result of recognizing that.
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." - Psalm 37:4
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