ECONOMY 03 – Do not covet - English Bible Study

“Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, house, field, slave, ox, donkey, thing.”

What does ‘coveting’ mean? Is there no positive side to desiring?
Yes, if we see an exemplary person, we should be encouraged to imitate them.
To not covet is a command to creativity, effort and initiative. Desire is good, if I am willing to spend effort, work, time to obtain it. “If he was able to learn this…”
But typically coveting is when I am just envying, I’m not learning from that person nor am I wiling to do as he did.

Why is this among the 10 commandments? What is so harmful about coveting?
Coveting doesn’t harm anybody… it’s just in my mind …who will ever know, right?
Wrong. God calls this sin. It is possible to sin in my mind. Even if nobody knows.
And it will not stay there. It will lead to sinful action as well.

Coveting is destructive as first step towards other sins, it opens the door to
- > > > misuse of funds, wrong means of getting money, bribes, stealing
- > > > conflict in relationships, jealousy, adultery
How does coveting function? Where are my eyes? What do I focus on?
Endless mind-circles: “if only I were then I would, then I could”
And an unspoken second circle: “but I don’t … therefore I can’t.”
Coveting focuses my eyes on
- > who I am not
- > what I don’t have
- > what I therefore can’t do
It fills my mind with un-realities and impossibilities
- > Discontent, complaining, comparison, envy, jealousy
- > stops intercession … I already think they got too much
- > Resentment, bitterness, feeling victimized, stinginess, selfishness
- > Laziness, irresponsibility, hopelessness, powerlessness, paralysis
- > Coveting will close down my mind

Thankfulness is the opposite of coveting and commanded by God
What does thankfulness do to my mind? Where are my eyes? My focus?
Thankfulness focuses my eyes on
- > what I am
- > what I do have, I have received
- > what is therefore possible
Thankfulness makes me aware of realities, of my possibilities, of my power
- > It opens doors and options for me, it makes me realize my potential
Thankfulness says: “I may not have much, but I do have …with it I can …”
Faithfulness says: “I will work with what I do have”
Often we think God is selfish when he commands us to thanks him. And he surely enjoys heartfelt thankfulness and thankfulness is definitely appropriate.
But thankfulness is also a discipline that keeps our mental health
Thankfulness and faithfulness in New Testament language: Mth 25 … Parable of the talents
Don’t worry about what you don’t have … be faithful with what you do have!
Remember: Ownership = responsibility and accountability … don’t cry for two much
Example: slum mothers, slum huts, both poor, for both the tube well is at the same distance. But one house is clean and orderly, the other one is messy.
Who do you want to be around, a thankful person or a coveting person?

If a coveting person gets what he or she desires

We could say: “You poor Bangladeshi, you get floods and hurricanes (true!), the British exploited you (true!), your country has a lot of corruption (true!), climate change hits you hard (true!).
How does a Bangladeshi feel at that? Everyone pitying me may be nice, hopefully they will give aid
But what is the problem? It means taking responsibility from me, everybody is the problem except me. It leads to a demanding or blaming mindset: “If they would”. So: “they are my problem”
Whether I blame the situation, the government, my father, Satan or God doesn’t matter. It’s all blame. It’s all “out there”. It leads to irresponsibility, passivity, dependency, anger, bitterness, aggression.
Demanding is a dangerous path, it’s not the way God works.
God always focuses back on: “but what will YOU do in these circumstances …”
The moment I take responsibility for myself, development starts

We teach people to demand their rights, should we? Are human rights biblical?
Yes and no. Yes: The whole concept of human rights arose from biblical thinking and Christian countries had rights first.
No: There is no Bible verse: “I claim my right” and “you must grant my right”
How then? I am commanded to grant your right. And you are commanded to grant my my right. … Not demanding “he should” but responsibility “I should”.

In the Greek language (and subsequently in many modern languages the sequence in Conjugation is: I, you, he, …
In the Hebrew of pronouns in Conjugation is: he, you, I …
This is a significant sequence!
It is also reflected in well known passages like: “Love the Lord (He) and your neighbor (you) as yourself (me)
My priority is first God (he), then my neighbor (you), then myself.