Exodus 20:17 (Do not covet...)
At it's most basic, covet means to desire, which isn't a bad thing. Where it turns from healthy to dangerous is when what we desire belongs to someone else.
Our society demands we consume. We are bombarded by advertising designed to make us desire the latest and greatest thing available.
The average expected lifespan of a modern smartphone is about 15 months. Most people wouldn't need a new phone that soon, but they'll probably want one. But why do they want a new phone when their current one still works fine?
Marketing; Pure and simple. We are told that our old phone is outdated and doesn't ave the latest software with the best features.
It's not just phones, but pretty much everything that we are told we need to replace at regular intervals.
A capitalist society requires consumers to consume so that a few at the top, the 1%, can be fabulously wealthy. Unfortunately, if you don't have your wits about you, you'll be drawn in.
But how did God look at this situation? And how does it relate to our relationship to others?
Exodus 20:17
“You must not covet your neighbour’s house. You must not covet your neighbour’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbour.”
What if your friend does get the latest and greatest? Do you start to feel a little jealous and resolve to get one for yourself? Can you see how it prevents you from celebrating the new thing with your friend? Rather than being able to have joy for your friend, you're too busy being self absorbed and inwardly focused.
As for the 'neighbour's wife' part; dehumanising someone and making them an object of lust lowers their value in your eyes. Basically they become a commodity to be acquired.
Also as bad is wanting to be someone else who seems to have all the things you desire.
Coveting the stuff of another person takes your eyes off God, but it also breed emnity between you and the person you're jealous of. You cannot be free to have a truly open, caring and meaningful relationship with anyone if you spend your time looking at what they have and not who they are.
These desires are a distraction from God as well. When we spend our energy desiring the things of this world, our worship tank is too full of stuff to allow room for us to be an empty vessel for Jesus to fill.
If you have a gap you want to fill and are using 'things' and people to do it, you need to realise that it's probably Jesus shaped and He is the only way to fill it.
Our society demands we consume. We are bombarded by advertising designed to make us desire the latest and greatest thing available.
The average expected lifespan of a modern smartphone is about 15 months. Most people wouldn't need a new phone that soon, but they'll probably want one. But why do they want a new phone when their current one still works fine?
Marketing; Pure and simple. We are told that our old phone is outdated and doesn't ave the latest software with the best features.
It's not just phones, but pretty much everything that we are told we need to replace at regular intervals.
A capitalist society requires consumers to consume so that a few at the top, the 1%, can be fabulously wealthy. Unfortunately, if you don't have your wits about you, you'll be drawn in.
But how did God look at this situation? And how does it relate to our relationship to others?
Exodus 20:17“You must not covet your neighbour’s house. You must not covet your neighbour’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbour.”
What if your friend does get the latest and greatest? Do you start to feel a little jealous and resolve to get one for yourself? Can you see how it prevents you from celebrating the new thing with your friend? Rather than being able to have joy for your friend, you're too busy being self absorbed and inwardly focused.
As for the 'neighbour's wife' part; dehumanising someone and making them an object of lust lowers their value in your eyes. Basically they become a commodity to be acquired.
Also as bad is wanting to be someone else who seems to have all the things you desire.
Coveting the stuff of another person takes your eyes off God, but it also breed emnity between you and the person you're jealous of. You cannot be free to have a truly open, caring and meaningful relationship with anyone if you spend your time looking at what they have and not who they are.
These desires are a distraction from God as well. When we spend our energy desiring the things of this world, our worship tank is too full of stuff to allow room for us to be an empty vessel for Jesus to fill.
If you have a gap you want to fill and are using 'things' and people to do it, you need to realise that it's probably Jesus shaped and He is the only way to fill it.
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