What do You Want?
What Do You Want?
Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. (Exod. 20:17)
Living Large
High-speed collisions and high-intensity games make watching sports a popular activity for men. (That is, if you can call sitting on the couch with a remote control and a bag of chips an activity.) Big-money contracts allow professional athletes to live extravagant lifestyles. Big houses. Beautiful wives. Bodacious cars. It’s easy for men to become envious. But going all the way back to the Ten Commandments, God knew this wasn’t a healthy way to live. That’s why he told us to be careful what we wish for.
Not Always Greener
God wants us to be content with what we have. Our Creator knows us better than we know ourselves and entrusts us with exactly the right amount of “stuff ” we truly need (even if it happens to be a little less than our neighbor). Plus, having more things doesn’t necessarily lead to happiness. Many well-paid professional athletes would tell you that money actually becomes a problem among those without the responsibility and support to manage their huge salaries well. With family members and old friends coming out of the woodwork, always asking favors, some discover their wealth is as much of a curse as it is a blessing.
When you’re tempted to get a little green with envy over a neighbor’s green (or a sports star’s very large amount of green), focus on all the blessings God has given you in the form of possessions and relationships. You are blessed!
Bottom Line
Look around at what you have—whether it’s a lot or a little—and be thankful.