Testimony Tuesday: Thou Shall Not Covet…

Learning to be careful of the sin of covetousness while on social media.

Edward Gebel Photography

WHAT I’M WEARING:

Blazer: J. Crew ; Cardigan: J. Crew ; Silk Pants: J. Crew ; Shoes: Banana Republic ; Bracelet: J. Crew ; Watch: Michael Kors

From the time I decided to quit and then return to the blogging world, I have been spending much time renewing my mind, reaffirming myself in the Word of God, and attempting to debunk all the myths the devil  placed in my mind. I also had to condition myself to stop coveting “things.”

Covetousness

Covetousness is defined as greedy, acquisitive, grasping, avaricious mean having or showing a strong desire for especially material possessions. Covetous implies inordinate desire often for another’s possessions.   (Merriam- Webster)

How often have we read that word in the Bible and overlooked it because it looked and sounded strange. Well, family covetousness is real and I struggle with it quite often! In fact, it is the 10th commandment in the Bible (Exodus 20:17 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.) {You all better watch all these “goals” you all keep making for yourselves}

I think the sin of covetousness is one of the most problematic sins (not to say any sin isn’t problematic) because it leaves you unsatisfied at ALL times. Covetousness keeps you unfulfilled. You’re constantly seeking to acquire more and more. And because we can rarely ever have it all, we find ourselves feeling less than and inadequate.

As a fashion blogger constantly being inspired by other bloggers, I found myself always wanting something another blogger had. Whether it was a new pair of Gucci shoes or a boyfriend -photographer (the struggle), I always thought the acquisition of my neighbors’ blessings would make me more content than I already was. But I soon realized that the more I desired “things” the more unsatisfied I would become. As it is said in the Bible, “He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, And he is like death, never satisfied” (Habakkuk 2:5). As we enlarge our desires for more and more, we become less and less satisfied.

 Having a walk- in closet wouldn’t change how I felt about myself. Having my neighbor’s salary wouldn’t change how I thought of myself. Having a boyfriend who was a photography mastermind wouldn’t complete me either. I finally realized that all that I was seeking-  joy and contentment- would come from a healthy, dependent relationship with Jesus Christ.

This isn’t to say desires are evil. One of my favorite scriptures in Psalm 37:4 says Take delight in the Lord and He will give you your heart’s desires. The key in this verse, however, is delighting in God- not in “things.” But we should spend more time being mindful of all the times we find ourselves coveting…and guard our hearts from these evil desires. Because, after all, it really is an evil attitude to have.

That’s all I got for today.