“To covet or not to covet… that is the question.”  It seemed to be a really big deal back in Exodus because God told the Hebrew people not to desire and be jealous of what belongs to another individual. This same rule holds true of us today.
Sometimes it seems so difficult to not covet what others around you have.  We see and want so much, but the issue really boils down to trust: “Do we trust that God has a plan for me that is good?”  If the answer is yes, then why do we chase after other people’s possessions and become jealous or envious when one person gets something that we don’t have?

Stop and think for a moment.  All the time we spend wishing for and chasing after someone elses life is being wasted when we should be seeking God about our own life, and doing what is necessary to discover and build up our own skills, gifts and talents.  How many people’s lives have been ruined by giving into greed, lust, jealousy and envy?  How many people live to keep up with someone else rather than live their own journey?  My pastor used to run track in high school and told me that his coach would tell him, “never run against your opponent.  Run against the clock.”  We always like to keep our eyes on others.

Personally, I’ve spent so much time through the years, trying to be someone else because I didn’t like who I was… now I realize that my own perspective was incorrect.  God never creates a person to be anything other than a person of worth.  So if I’m worth something, I’d better find our why and what I’m capable of doing.  God wants me to trust Him and become who He has created me to be.  And time waits for no one.

What about you?  Where do you stand in this?  Honestly, the more time we spend focusing on the “latest things” advertisers tell us will make us happy and fulfilled, the less time and resources we will have to use for our own genuine development.  I am making the move in my mentality - from being one who spends my resources to one that invests them.  I try to ask myself the question, “Does what I want to buy help advance my development or is it just a quick fix?”

We need to learn how to be happy for people when they are blessed and not be hateful or envious because someone else has something that we don’t.  If God does have a plan for us… and we are faithful to Him, than everything that is stored up for us will be ours.  So there is no need to chase after what belongs to someone else.  What are you chasing with your existence?  Do you trust that God has a plan and a purpose for your life?  If so, what are you doing about it?

Let me know what you think.

-Allen Paul Weaver III-

Filed under: Self-Help

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