|
HANDLING THE HOLIDAY’S
‘Tis the Season to be deluged with Christmas catalogues
and advertisements. Not once did we read or see a
warning about the dangers of coveting. But we’ve seen
plenty of examples of it. Unfortunately, this has
become the season of coveting.
“You shall not covet your neighbor's house…wife…manservant
or maidservant…ox or donkey…anything
that belongs to your neighbor.” Exodus 20:17 (NIV)
What is coveting? It is the ungoverned desire to
acquire…leading us away from God and corrupting our
relationships with others.
3 kinds of thinking have allowed coveting develop
a stronghold on our culture:
ü
THE MYTH OF MORE – “Just a
little more…and I’ll be happy.”
ü
WHEN…THEN THINKING – "When I
get ______, then I'll be happy." You fill in the
blank.
ü
MEASURING SUCCESS BY OTHERS
Before you exempt yourself, check out 5 symptoms
of being influenced or controlled by coveting:
FATIGUE…DEBT…WORRY…CONFLICT…and all this
leads to the fifth…DISSATISFACTION.
Things don't give permanent happiness. How many of you
are still thrilled about the Christmas gift you got last
Christmas?
So, what is the antidote to coveting? The
antidote to coveting is contentment. Paul says,
“I have learned the secret of being content in any
and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether
living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:12 (NIV)
Contentment is more than something you experience…it’s
someONE you experience. Yet, a lifestyle of contentment
is something you have to learn. It does not come
natural. I am not by nature a contented person and
neither are you. It is not automatic. It is a
process…requiring our trust, our will and our minds.
You can break the stronghold of coveting and
experience true contentment.
Listed below are five (5) keys in the learning process:
1. START BELIEVING
“You can be sure that God will take care of
everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours
in the glory that pours from Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
(MSG)
2. STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHERS.
“We do not dare classify or compare ourselves…when
they measure themselves by themselves, and compare
themselves with themselves, they are without
understanding.” 2 Corinthians 10:12 (NAS)
3. REJOICE IN WHAT YOU DO HAVE.
God has richly provided us with everything for our
enjoyment. God wants you to enjoy what you already
have. Rejoice in it. God enjoys watching you enjoy
what He's given you.
“Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you
don't have.” Ecclesiastes 6:9 (NLT)
4. RELEASE WHAT YOU HAVE TO HELP OTHERS.
God doesn't want to just bless you for your own
benefit. He wants you to share it, help other people
with it. He's watching you to see how much you give
away.
“Keep remembering that our Master said, 'You're far
happier giving than getting.'” Acts 20:35 (MSG)
It's thrilling, as parents, when your kids grow up to a
point that they get more excited about what they're
giving at Christmas than what they're getting.
5. REFOCUS ON WHAT'S GOING TO LAST.
Give your attention to permanent values. Reorganize
your life around eternal priorities.
“Things that are seen don't last forever, but things
that are not seen are eternal. That's why we keep our
minds on the things that cannot be seen.” 2 Corinthians
4:18 (CEV)
Everything you see in the world is eventually going to
decay or rust or wear out or fall apart -- it will
eventually not exist, because all possessions are
temporary. The only things that really last for
eternity are things you can't see -- relationship to
God, relationship to others, values, freedom -- things
you can't see.
I want to challenge you to challenge “the myth of
more”…”when/then thinking”…“measuring success by
others”. We all need periodic checkups where we ask the
tough questions,
“What am I really living for? Is the primary goal of
my life just to get more? Is my balance sheet the only
way I'm keeping score in my life? What do I think about
the most? What do I talk about the most? What do I
spend the most time on?”
The next few weeks will be a great time for your
checkup. 2005 is coming to an end and 2006 is quickly
approaching. Get alone with God and let Him lead you
through a process of personal evaluation and
preparation. The New Year represents a “blank check”
endorsed by God and written to you. Don’t short-change
yourself though. Give God one day and let Him show you
just how rich He is!
Happy New Year,
Mike
Return to Top |
