How can we lust for something belonging to another?
Receiving from God is something we do every minute of every day. Whether the roof over our head, the food we eat, the air we breathe and even rest at the end of a day to wake up to a new day. Most of these things we don’t even ask for and often times we're too thoughtless to give God thanks for them.
All this giving from God to us. Yet, what are we giving to God?
With all we receive, how can we want for more on earth and/or something that belongs to someone else? Yet, sometimes a person is led to temptation, desiring (‘coveting’) something belonging to someone else. Coveting is lustful, wanton thought that leads to evil and sinful behavior. This is described in the Tenth Commandment, a commandment that legislates thought to prevent sin. As God commands, we shalt not covet ANYTHING belonging to others.
Old Testament
Exodus 20:17 - "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's."
New Testament
Romans 7:7 - "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet."
Keep the focus on God’s grace and mercy by living each minute with faith and trust, knowing nothing compares to life after earth in Heaven! What God has given is sufficient. The promise of eternity in Heaven is beyond compare!
All of this said in today’s song, as Billy Preston sings, “You Can't Beat God Giving”.
You can’t beat God’s giving, no matter how you try. And just as sure as you are living and the Lord is in heaven on high. The more you give, the more He gives to you, but keep on giving because it’s really true that you can’t beat God’s giving, no matter how you try. Should we receive and never give, the Savior died that we might live. His life on Calvary, He gladly gave, our sinful souls to save. He gives me health, He keeps me strong, He guides me when I would go wrong, He gives me everything that I need, my ever hunger He feeds. He gave me peace, He made me whole, and when in sin He saved my soul! And what I gave would never be compared with the blessing that I share.
Written by: Doris Akers
