Bible League: Living His Word Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."What does it mean to covet something? It is to have an inordinate desire for something that rightfully belongs to somebody else. "You shall not covet" is the tenth of the Ten Commandments. From it we learn that it is possible to covet virtually anything: "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" (Exodus 20:17). There's nothing wrong with desiring something. However, when what we desire is out of line with the will of God for us, then our desire has been misplaced. Desiring what rightfully belongs to somebody else is a prime example of misplaced desire. It is the wrongful, excessive, rapacious misdirection of our God-given ability as human beings to desire things. It is selfish in nature, because it ignores the rightful claims to something that belongs to somebody else. It is easy to see why God forbade covetousness. When we covet what belongs to somebody else we are also not being content with what we have. Although we may have everything we need, what we already have never seems to be enough. The Apostle Paul told us, "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content" (Philippians 4:11), but the covetous never seem to learn this lesson. To be covetous, then, is a deeply frustrating and unhappy state of being, because the covetous cannot be happy until they acquire what they cannot have and should not have. In the final analysis, covetousness is the failure to believe that God will take care of us and provide for us; the failure to believe that God will never leave us nor forsake us. The covetous are not thankful and grateful for what God has already given them and are not willing to wait for Him to provide any legitimate needs they have. Instead, the covetous desire what God has provided for someone else. Today, be content with what God has given you. Trust Him to provide whatever else you may need. And don't desire what belongs to somebody else. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingNehemiah 1, 2, 3 Nehemiah 1 -- Nehemiah's Prayer for the Exiles NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Nehemiah 2 -- Artaxerxes Sends Nehemiah to Jerusalem to Inspect Jerusalem's Walls NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Nehemiah 3 -- Builders of the Walls Named NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 2:1-13 Acts 2 -- The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost, Peter Preaches, Believers Gather NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Insight Jesus used a child to help his self-centered disciples get the point. We are not to be childish (like the disciples, arguing over petty issues), but rather childlike, with humble and sincere hearts. Challenge Are you being childlike or childish? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.The Christian should never think or speak lightly of unbelief. For a child of God to mistrust his love, his truth, his faithfulness, must be greatly displeasing to him. How can we ever grieve him by doubting his upholding grace? Christian! it is contrary to every promise of God's precious Word that thou shouldst ever be forgotten or left to perish. If it could be so, how could he be true who has said, "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I never forget thee." What were the value of that promise--"The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee." Where were the truth of Christ's words--"I give unto my sheep eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand." Where were the doctrines of grace? They would be all disproved if one child of God should perish. Where were the veracity of God, his honor, his power, his grace, his covenant, his oath, if any of those for whom Christ has died, and who have put their trust in him, should nevertheless be cast away? Banish those unbelieving fears which so dishonor God. Arise, shake thyself from the dust, and put on thy beautiful garments. Remember it is sinful to doubt his Word wherein he has promised thee that thou shalt never perish. Let the eternal life within thee express itself in confident rejoicing. "The gospel bears my spirit up: A faithful and unchanging God Lays the foundation for my hope, In oaths, and promises, and blood." Daily Light on the Daily Path Ephesians 5:15,16 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, • making the most of your time, because the days are evil.Joshua 22:5 "Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul." Colossians 4:5,6 Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. • Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 abstain from every form of evil. Matthew 25:5,6 "Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. • "But at midnight there was a shout, 'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Matthew 25:13 "Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. 2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; Luke 12:37 "Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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