Day 341 "Wanting What You Have"

Passage: Acts 20:33

"I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing."

Devotion:

This issue of coveting is a sticky subject and in our current society certainly is one that just about every magazine and television ad wants to promote within us: The desire to have something more than we have, which can only be satisfied if we buy the advertisers product. The ad screams, "You see these young, happy and beautiful people--you too can be just like them if you buy our drink, perfume, clothing, shoes, etc." If you don't feel good it must be because of something you don't have. While I agree with the general concept that we need more than ourselves to be happy, I disagree with the conclusion--I don't believe we need a new car, the latest fashion, or hairstyle, instead we need Jesus.

Man was created with a God sized hole in him which is why so many people who don't know the Lord, fill their lives with stuff yet still feel strangely empty. It's why great accomplishment and a large bank account still aren't all that satisfying. King Solomon (who was arguably both the richest and wisest man in all of history), wrote in Ecclesiastes 1:8, "All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing." He continues in verse 13, "I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind." After spending a lifetime pursuing and achieving great wealth, power and learning, King Solomon must have been disappointed to discover that all his efforts and accomplishments could be summed up in two words: "wearisome" and more importantly "meaningless". Does that change your perspective on the new car you want?

Questions to Ponder:

My wife has a quote (author unknown) framed on her desk, "The key to happiness is wanting what you have." I have always thought that pretty well summed up the coveting issue: Do we want what we have or instead are we envying-yearning-craving what another has? What will it take to satisfy you? Do you have a God-sized hole in you that all the possessions in the world will not fill?