STOP COVETING! START LOVING! (5)

“You shall not covet [that is, selfishly desire and attempt to acquire] your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour” (Exo 20:17; AMP)

Coveting is defined as having a strong desire of envy and greed to possess something that belongs to another, his property, spouse or status. It is often accompanied by dis-contentment with what you currently have. Covetousness is not a simple desire for what others have but a passionate and selfish longing that leads to other sins like theft, adultery or crime. Coveting damages relationships thru envy and bitterness. The sin of coveting is hidden. It starts in the heart. It is not only manifested in actions but in desires and thoughts. In the Garden of Eden, Eve desired the forbidden fruit. It led to disobedience and affected all humanity. God judged and punished that sin.  

The antidote against coveting is faith in God’s provision and Contentment. “Be content with what you have” (Heb 13:5). Redirecting desires towards spiritual growth and eternal treasures gives a godly perspective. Agape Love is the best weapon against envy and coveting. “Love does not envy” (1Cor 13:4). Jesus said: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these” (Mk 12:30,31).

These are some visible signs of coveting:

*You do not rejoice with those who rejoice!

*You pay more attention to people’s things (their money) than to the people’s souls (hearts)!

*Your prayers for material things are not answered. This is because you pray amiss, to satisfy your flesh! Covetousness blocks prayer.

*You think that Bigger is always better!

*You always complain about your house, spouse or job to others.

*You don’t care how you make money! (“The end justifies the means”).

The solution is to exchange your desire for material things and status with seeking God. You give yourself a new vision, a new purpose in life. As God becomes your greatest desire, coveting disappears. You learn that godliness and contentment is great gain! Praise the Lord!

JOSEPH FORGIVES HIS BROTHERS (Genesis 45)

1-Forgivness is powerful! Letting go of past grudges leads to healing and restoration, for ourselves and for those who have wronged us.

2-God is sovereign over our lives. His plans are better than our plans!

3-Reconciliation transforms relationships and bring profound joy, showing the importance of seeking peace and unity with others.

4-God provides in Times of Need. God uses us to meet the needs of others, encouraging us to be generous.

5-Family is important! Despite the betrayal he experienced, Joseph’s love for his family remains strong.

6-Trust in God’s Timing even when we cannot see the full picture.

7-Godly Leadership is a gift and a blessing from God. Like Joseph, we must lead with humility and purpose in our own spheres of influence.

8-We must embrace God’s Promises and His Purpose. Embracing God’s purpose for us brings clarity, boldness and direction.

9- Repentance is God’s powerful gift, and it leads to peace and joy.

VICTIM MENTALITY

Joseph was free from the negative thinking pattern called “Victim mentality”. A victim is one who has suffered harm, injury, damage or death from a crime, accident, natural disaster, sickness or deception from a con artist. Victim mentality is a persistent, harmful, negative mindset when you see life as unfair, always attacked by others and powerless to help yourself. VM often develops during childhood, after painful experiences. It is a survival strategy to gain attention and to be free from responsibility to change, to become mature. This is an exhausting mentality, and it negatively affects your relationships with others. It leads to anxiety, loneliness and depression. These are some sings: you see life as unfair. You feel hopeless. There is emotional stagnation. You deflect responsibility and blame others. You dwell on the painful events of the past, to try to justify the present. You refuse advice, seeing it as an attack to you. True victims are different. They suffered, but they isolated the pain, learned from the experience, became better and wiser, and now they move on. People with VM they use that as a shield to protect their hearts. It is hard for them to be free because they need to be vulnerable and take responsibility for their mistakes. This is hard for them to do. They need to pray deliverance for themselves. With God, all things are possible.

Jacob was told that Joseph was dead, and he believed it (Gen 37:31-35). Then he was told Joseph was alive, and he did not believe it until his sons told him the words of Joseph and showed him the blessings that came to them through Joseph. Only then did old Jacob believe that Joseph was alive, though he had not yet seen him. Lesson: the only way people will know that Jesus is alive is if we tell them His words and show them His blessings in their lives. Israel (no longer Jacob) said: “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive!” Knowing that his favoured son was alive – like back from the dead, – changed Israel’s testimony from “all these things are against me” (Gen 42:36) to “it is enough”! As Jacob, he was a selfish, covetous man. He often fought his fears and doubts. Now, Jacob has changed. He is Isreal, Prince with God, the man who struggled with God and was conquered by God. This testimony of faith in Joseph did not come to Jacob but to Isreal. He believed in Joseph the way we should believe in Jesus. Isreal believed and he acted because he had enough evidence to convince him to move on! Worship the Lord!