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cov·et /ˈkəvət /verb
yearn to possess or have (something)
"he covets time for exercise and fishing"
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Google's definition of the word covet doesn't sound so bad. The sample sentence sure seems innocuous. Don't we all yearn for certain things, good things? So why is it listed as a prohibition among the Ten Commandments?
A deeper dive into the words and phrases similar in meaning sheds light:
- be consumed with desire for
- have one's heart set on
- burn for
Yeah, we'll end up burning for it if we don't take corrective action.
The synonyms suggest a strong desire has taken control of the person who covets. Therein lies the sin. We're to be controlled by God's Spirit and nothing else. The enemy uses juicy morsels to pull us off course. And it works for him often - but not for us.
Most of us are wired to compare ourselves and our plight with the people around us. And at least here in America, we've developed an entitlement mentality, perhaps due to the affluence in our society. Marketing campaigns usually appeal to the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, vulnerabilities we all have and which lead to materialism.
Have we become fat, dumb, and happy - brainwashed into believing that we can be or have anything we set our desire on if we work (or pray?) hard enough? Conventional wisdom urges us to go for it.
We're trained at an early age.
Parents and educators use peer pressure as motivation. We're given tests and graded, then dropped on a curve to see how we compare.
Our fascination with athletic competition celebrates winners more than good sports or worthy combatants.
The latest rage seems to be home improvement, shooting for more comfort, status, and net worth.
Don't get me wrong: Motivating children to achieve excellence in behavior, learning, and competition builds positive character. And we should be good stewards of the assets entrusted to us.
But our focus on rising to the top and relishing the material flies in the face of celebrating the uniqueness of how God has created each individual, designed for good works that He established at inception. Enough of the distractions.
Many younger people detect the illusion. As a whole, they're seeing more value in experience and altruism than their predecessors did. But they've been shortchanged on the transfer of a spiritual legacy and are navigating life with broken compasses. We Baby Boomers got some explainin' to do.
It's time to reset our priorities as a culture. Let's yearn for a shift in perspective, setting aside good things in favor of what is greatest. Let's ask the "Heavenly Chiropractor" for an adjustment to get us back in alignment with His principles.
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