The American Dream

Today I drove through a perfect, manicured, wealthy suburb of Texas. It was exactly what I imagine the American dream looking like. And though I didn't actively think to myself, "I am coveting that man's house," the reality is as I imagined myself living in those streets and driving their sweet cars, something of discontent rose up in me a little. Discontent rooted in envy for what someone else has and I don't.

And when I realised that, the obvious commandment came to mind:

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbors.” - Exodus 20:17

Regardless of whether we even act on our selfish desire, this coveting is the craving for something that is not ours to have. It stems from good ole pride that says I deserve to have all the things. It's almost as though we are calling life unfair and God unjust for not providing us this thing we so yearn for.

Interestingly, in Ephesians 5:5 in the ESV, coveting is equated to idolatry. But when you stop and think about it, it makes sense. When we deeply yearn for something or someone that is not ours, it monopolizes our focus and we begin to idolize that thing which elevates it into a position of importance above God. If we let the root sink in too deep, eventually we lose all focus and begin to worship the creation rather than the Creator.

"They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised." - Romans 1:25

In our culture these days, coveting is such a 'natural' part that most people hardly even notice its existence. Everything is about the biggest houses, coolest cars, best Insta feeds, finding the perfect bachelor and keeping up with the Kardashians.

But we were called to live differently. We are called to be content no matter the circumstance and to actively choose to not covet.

HOW??

I'm still learning, but these are some things that have helped me on this journey on laying down my coveting and idols.

Number one is to seek first Jesus and his kingdom. To above all, love him with all my heart, mind and strength. As I seek him more and more, I find myself more and more satisfied in his love and presence and I become more and more convinced that he truly is enough for me. As this happens, the things that used to draw my eyes and my heart have a little less of a shine and allure.

The more I seek him, the more I get to know him and so the more I trust that he is good and that he has given me everything I need and more. More than I could ask or imagine. So then when I look at something that I don't have, it's okay, because I believe that God, in all his infinite wisdom and unfailing love for me, deemed it unnecessary in my life at this time.

The second thing is to try and look at all things in life through the spectacles of eternity. And this is definitely not the easiest thing, because what I see is so tangible and real and physically within my grasp. But when I remember that the shiny things I so desire will eventually fade and fail, rot and rust, it is a little easier to put things in perspective.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:19-21

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." - 2 Corin 4:18

The things that scream for my attention in this world probably won't carry any weight in eternity. So why do I give them so much of my time and emotion and thoughts? Obviously I need many things in order to exist in my day to day life, and I do think it's okay to want things. But when that want breeds discontent in my heart, I need to take a step back and apply the filter of eternity.

And the final thing is asking God, in his transforming power, to realign my desires after his heart. Romans 12 talks about God renewing my mind in a way that transforms me, makes me more like him and stops me from conforming to the world—the world that loves to covet.

Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." And I believe this means he will provide me with the deep desires he's placed in my heart, but I also believe that as I seek after him and delight in him, my desires become more synchronised and moulded like his.

I'm broken and sinful and I will always find myself wanting more and desiring what is not mine, but I pray that as I continue to seek Jesus, keep eternity in mind and ask God to keep transforming me, I will learn to be content whatever the circumstances (Phil 4:11).

I pray this for you too. Let's kill the weeds of coveting that are strangling us and make room for the beautiful life that comes through being content in Jesus to grow.