Stella was sitting in her favorite chair watching her favorite television show. To her , life couldn't be better for Harold had been grounded and since he couldn't leave his room, he couldn't bother her. Yes, Stella thought life was just great or at least it was until she was startled by someone banging on the front door, causing her to spill a glass of grape juice all over her favorite outfit.
“Quick, I need to see Harold!”
Mindy said as she pushed the door open, knocking Stella to the floor.
“Where is he?” “You can't see him!” Stella snapped back,
“He's grounded and isn't aloud out of his room and no one is
allowed in it. Now help me up!” “But I need to see him now.”
Mindy said as she gave Stella her hand to help her up.”
“Why would you want to see Harold?”
Stella asked, “Do you need to kill him?” “No way.” Mindy
said, “I need him alive so he can help me.” “Well,” Stella
growled, you'll have to wait until next month and look what you made
me do to my shirt.” “Next Month!” Mindy exclaimed, “I need to
see him now as in N O W, now!”
“What in the world could you
possibly need Harold’s help for.” Stella asked, “Are you trying
to get yourself into trouble so you'll be grounded?” “Well,”
Mindy stuttered, “There is this new toy at the store and I just
have to have it.” “You just have to have it?” Stella
questioned. Are you sure you have to have it?”
“Everybody’s getting one.” Mindy
claimed. “Everybody?” Stella asked. “Yes!” Mindy exclaimed,
“Everybody is getting one and I need Harold's help.” “Why?”
Stella asked, “why don't you just go and get one.” “Uhm,”
Mindy hesitated, “Because mom and dad won’t let me get one.”
“They won't!” Stella exclaimed “No.” Mindy said, “They
won't”
“So.” Stella said, “What makes
you think that Harold would be able to help you get one?” “That's
easy.” Mindy answered, “Your mom and dad let him have whatever he
wants.” “Not really.” Stella injected, “And when they don't
he always figures out away to get things.” Mindy completed.
“That's true.” Stella said in
agreement, “But you need to remember, that he's always getting into
trouble for doing it.” “Better him than me.” Mindy said but
then her eye caught glimpse of something. “Hey, is that one of
those new toys over there?” “Over where?” Stella asked looking
to see what Mindy just saw.
“I bet somebody lost it and I found
it.” Mindy exclaimed with glee, “Finders keepers you know.”
“What?” Stella exclaimed, “Wait a minute, that's not lost
that's mine.” “Well it's mine now.” Mindy said as she ran to
grab it. “It is not!” Stella screamed running after her, tackling
her before she could get to it.
Matthew 7:7-12 - "Ask, and it
will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be
opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks
finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of
you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he
asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil,
know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your
Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! "So
whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for
this is the Law and the Prophets. (ESV)
God likes to give gifts, especially to
those who ask but God doesn't give everybody everything. There are
times when God doesn't want us to have something and then we decide
otherwise. These three men did just that.
Achan was told before destroying
Jericho that all silver and gold, and every vessel of bronze and
iron, are holy to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the
LORD.- Joshua 6:19 (ESV) but... Achan answered Joshua,
"Truly I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is
what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from
Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50
shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden
in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath."
Joshua 7:20-21 (ESV) Achan wanted what was not his, took it and lost
his life.
Gehazi served Elisha and when Naaman,
the commander of the army of the king of Syria was cured. And Gehazi,
the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "See, my master has
spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he
brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something
from him." So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw
someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him
and said, "Is all well?" And he said, "All is well. My
master has sent me to say, 'There have just now come to me from the
hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets.
Please give them a talent of silver and two festal garments.' "
2 Kings 5:20-22 (ESV) Gehazi wanted what was not his, took it and
received leprosy.
Ahab was a king in 1 Kings 21. He
wanted a vineyard but when he asked for it he was told no. His wife,
the wicked Jezebel, had the owner of the vineyard killed and seized
the land for him. Ahab did and God pronounced punishment on him for
doing so.
The last of the ten commandments says
- You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet
your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or
his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.
Exodus 20:17 (ESV) All of these men and many others have coveted –
wanted something that wasn't theirs and went and took it and there in
lies the biggest problem of coveting.
The worst part about coveting what
another has is things don't satisfy. Ecclesiastes 5:10 says He
who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves
wealth with his income; this also is vanity. (ESV)
The Bible reminds us that instead of
coveting what others have we should simply be content with what we
have.
- Hebrews 13:5 - Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (ESV)
When there are things we would like to
have – work for them, ask God for them but don't covet them.
Here's Something To Ponder
- What are the things that you covet?
- Are you content with all that you have?
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