what does it mean for a company to be a good neighbor
| Crosswalk.com Contributor
What is coveting and what does the Bible say about it? We were created to desire. Some desires stem from our needs, like our craving for food and residual. Other desires originate from our wants, like our longing for trends and excess. While we tin can distinguish between wants and needs, both categories lead us to conclude that we are non self-sustained or self-satisfied. We crave outside provisioning and when that provisioning arrives, we accept pleasure in it.
Our good Creator designed u.s.a. to take needs and wants and so that nosotros might know him and delight in him as our Provider and our Sustainer.
He did non create us as robots that lack feeling or gratitude. Instead, he gave united states of america the power to crave and enjoy. Consider how lackluster life would be without the satisfaction of desires fulfilled. This role of u.s. is sacred because it precedes our worship. When needs and wants are met, we worship the source. Trust is so garnered and nosotros return to that source as desires proceed to arise.
Sin corrupts our God-given yearnings and makes us believe that our desires tin be satisfied autonomously from the Lord. As a effect, we run after worldly goods that, similar a sleeve of cookies, gratify us for a moment, merely finish up leaving us ill and malnourished.
When we provender for fulfillment apart from the Lord, severing the relationship between Provider and provision, we covet.
This wide definition may surprise u.s.. Nosotros are far more inclined to assign coveting to a specific desire for a specific affair, like ogling a neighbor'southward lawnmower or a friend'south house. We might even vocalize these thoughts in jest. Though these pointed desires can be a form of coveting, we do the give-and-take a disservice if we so limit this far reaching sin.
Consider these three questions to help us deepen our understanding of what information technology means to covet.
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1. What Does Covet Mean & Why is Coveting Dangerous?
The Ten Commandments tell us not to covet (Exodus 20:17). We demand to know that when the Lord issues a commandment, he is protecting us from something harmful, non restraining usa from something good. God's call to forsake covetousness hems us in, dissuading us from running after things that, on their own, disappoint, distract, or even destroy. He instead calls us to what is truly good, worthy, and satisfying: himself.
Nosotros must understand that appetent is far more fundamental than a unproblematic struggle with materialism.
Coveting, a sin inextricably tied to our want, is a corruption of what was created in united states of america to be the mechanism that draws us to the Lord. Our desire is the door through which nosotros enter into satisfaction in God. Coveting turns our attention from our good Provider and fixates it on anything of bottom value. Information technology leads us to believe that we can be satisfied in cosmos apart from the Creator.
Information technology then plants seeds of distrust. We begin asking questions of the Lord. Is he really good if he hasn't given me all I want? Does he actually know what's best for me?
In all of this, we are questioning truths primal to our salvation: In Christ we are fabricated complete, defective nothing (Colossians 2:10). He is our Provider and will never leave us in demand (Matthew 6:32-33). In his presence is the "fullness of joy" and at his right hand are "pleasures forevermore" (Psalm sixteen:xi). Our Father wants the states to know these truths and rely upon them.
Now we begin to see the treachery of covetousness. Non only is information technology dangerous for the states, it is offensive to a God in whom all goodness and provision is found. Simply put, covetousness is a foolish endeavor that takes a Christ-follower and sends her grasping for satisfaction in all the wrong places.
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2. How Does Coveting Affect Our Relationship with Others?
Paul tells the states that all commandments, including the commandment prohibiting coveting, can be summed up in this: "You shall dearest your neighbor as yourself" (Romans 13:9). How is it that he can make the connection between coveting and loving our neighbor? Why does one inhibit the other?
We tend to believe that coveting is an isolated problem, affecting no ane merely ourselves. Yet, coveting, similar all sins, disrupts our relationships and our power to agree people within proper view. We are chosen to celebrate with one another (Romans 12:15), respect the position to which the Lord has chosen each of u.s. (i Corinthians 7:17), and acknowledge that we are merely stewards of resources that belong to the Lord (Matthew 25:21, 1 Corinthians 4:1-2).
When we covet, our attention turns from people'due south divine purpose to their possessions or position.
Nosotros become distracted with their allotment in life – their talents, their opportunities, and their stuff. We cannot be and then foolish as to believe our thoughts don't touch our deportment and words. If our thoughts are consumed in jealousy or idolatry, our actions and words will exist afflicted. This is why Solomon tells us to guard our hearts, for the heart drives all we do (Proverbs 4:23).
Much similar pride, covetousness deceives our minds into thinking that we are personally responsible for our own provisioning. It gives potency to our desires, making us believe that our desires are the best indicator of what we need or should have. In this mode, coveting becomes the origin point for other sins. Before nosotros steal, nosotros covet what we want to take. Before we commit adultery, nosotros covet another's spouse.
Covetousness may begin inwardly, but it volition manifest itself outwardly.
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iii. How Exercise We Foreclose Coveting From Taking Root in Our Lives?
Every sin is a manipulation of what began as good. Many of the things nosotros covet may be of great worth. We may want a talent, experience, home, family unit, or relationship. Each of these things may be used unto the celebrity of the Lord. They are not sinful in and of themselves. Our Begetter intended all practiced things to stir our affections for him in recognizing that they came from his manus (James 1:17). As we relish what he has given, nosotros enjoy the Giver himself.
The problem becomes when nosotros terminate our gratitude and adoration upon the affair itself, and not upon the Lord who gave it. Instead, our enjoyment of good things should draw our hearts to worship the Source.
Still, Scripture also makes clear that our worship is non dependent upon our possessions or circumstances. Nosotros are to be a people with an eternal mindset, storing upwardly treasures in heaven (Matthew six:19-21). We are to recognize that this world is passing away and only that which is plant in the Lord volition final (1 John ii:17).
In all of this, nosotros demand to exist evaluating our desires considering they are prone to perversion. They are not to exist trusted or pursued without first being filtered through Scripture (Philippians 1:ten).
When we notice ourselves appetent, we demand to assess the object of our want. Practice we long for it for the sake of our own pleasure? If so, we need to be wary. Our prayers may well go unanswered if we are asking simply at the bidding of our earthly passions (James 4:3).
We are made for more than than this world offers. Our greatest purpose is to walk in his likeness (i John two:half-dozen) and brand him known (Matthew 5:15-16). In his give-and-take we are equipped for every skillful work (2 Timothy 3:17).
For what is truly important and lasting, we have everything we need.
Our daily desires draw u.s.a. to observe contentment in the Lord'south presence and be renewed in his presence once more and again. We either act every bit expert stewards of our desires and permit them to fuel our worship, or we abandon our responsibleness to filter our emotions and allow them to lead us into coveting. Permit usa learn to pray with the psalmist, "Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast dear, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days" (Psalm xc:14).
Satisfaction and contentment practise non speak to our ain celebrity. They celebrate the 1 in whom all needs are met – the One who is to be enjoyed for all eternity. When we forsake covetousness, we proclaim the goodness of the Lord to ourselves and all who surround us.
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With a middle for educational activity,Madison Hetzler is passionate about edifying fellow believers to exist strong, confident, and knowledgeable in the Give-and-take of God. Madison graduated from Liberty Academy's School of Divinity and at present instructs Bible courses for Grace Christian University. She cherishes any opportunity to build community effectually cups of coffee and platters of homemade food.
Source: https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-does-it-mean-to-covet-and-is-it-dangerous.html
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