The 10^th Commandment

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.

Coveting has become quite the art thanks to social media. It's one the very reasons I had to get off it.

Everywhere, there was some new person for me to idolize, envy, and lust after everything God had blessed them with that He hadn't thought to give to me.

Ew.

This particular command, as you can imagine, doesn't just stop at not coveting our neighbor's house.  This verse goes on to warn against coveting our neighbor's wife, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey...basically anything that belongs to our neighbor.

How easy it is to spiral down into that void of bitterness when we dwell on all the things we don't have instead of all the things we do.

Paul famously said, "I can do all this through him who gives me strength"–a Bible verse that is often used out of context.

What we need to pay attention to is the "this" Paul is referring to which comes in the verse before it.

Paul is talking about contentment. He knows what it's like to be in need and to have plenty. He has learned the secret of contentment–it's trusting God to give him the strength to bear anything life throws at him.

When we keep our eyes on Jesus, all else wanes in comparison. Sure, it would be cool to go on that trip to Disney or wake up to find that brand new Tesla in your driveway.

But as we all know, some of those people who share these things on Facebook have to because it's the only thing they're living for.

And unfortunately, we know how that's going to end for them if they don't turn away from the world and submit to the God who made them.

So maybe instead of coveting, we start praying.

We should pray prayers of thanks for what we do have and prayers of intercession for those who trust in idols and allow envy to damage their hearts.

Because true freedom isn't in things. It's in Jesus.

Search me, God, and know my heart.

Do you find yourself coveting after the things, the vacations, the "better" marriage, the "perfect" kids that pop up in your social media feed? Do you find all of this distracts you from having a grateful heart for all God's done for you? Perhaps challenge yourself to limit your online intake, filling this time with quiet moments with your Father. Pray prayers of praise for His goodness to you and for others to lay down their worldly preoccupations in favor of heavenly pursuits.