Recently, I’ve been reading a book called: The Year of Living Biblically. The author, AJ Jacobs, describes himself as agnostic, but decides that for a year he’s going to try to study the Bible and live by it as literally as possible. One of the first commandments he focuses on is the tenth commandment – You shall not covet. He says it’s probably the hardest commandment. He lives in New York, which he says is built on coveting. We could probably say the same about our city.
He lists all the things he covets in one day. He covets the hand-held electronic devices others have that he doesn’t, he covets the large yard his friend has that he doesn’t, he covets the level of fame others have that allow them to do things that he can’t. Yet he realises his coveting is for more than just things. He’s constantly comparing himself to others, to people at work, to friends or family members, he compares his achievements to theirs, he compares his earnings to theirs, he is constantly coveting what others have. He gives this amazing admission for a secular agnostic:
The Bible is right, jealousy (coveting) is a useless, time-wasting emotion that is eating me alive…[1]
That’s an interesting admission isn’t it? He’s not a Christian, yet he recognises coveting is a big issue for him. In fact it’s a much bigger issue than he realises. Do you realise how serious an issue coveting is for you? As we look at 1 Kings 21 let’s notice: 1. Some symptoms of coveting 2. Some consequences of covering 3. How we can be moving from coveting to contentment.
1. Some symptoms of coveting:
Covet: yearn to possess (something, especially something belonging to another) (Oxford online Dictionary).
Coveting is a strong desire to own something that is not yours. Refusing to be content with what God has given you. Continue reading
