the ten: when or now? (part 13)

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (Exodus 20:17)

We hit #10 of "the ten" and I feel like cutting straight to the point on this one this morning. So here we go...

Our value does not lie in what we possess. It does not come from what we wear, what we drive, who we are married to, where we live, how new our furniture is, what job we have, what school our children attend, how fancy our purses are, etc. etc. etc. No, our value is based on one thing alone: God loves us. Because of this, Jesus (God in human flesh) paid the price for our sin and purchased our salvation so that we could live with Him forever in His eternal kingdom. We hold value, because our Messiah, our King, loves us. Period.

Once you see this... once you really understand it... you will realize that acquiring more and more material things or gaining more and more attention from anyone else cannot ever satisfy or compare to God. The tenth commandment is all about contentment. In showing us the best and healthiest way to live, God wraps it all up by telling us to be content... content with who we are... content with what we have... content with Him... no matter what!

A covetous person is one who greedily hungers after the life conditions or possessions of another rather than living contently in their own circumstances.

When we are covetous, we see the world only in terms of how it can benefit us. Short-term acquisitions win over long-term values while we deceive ourselves into thinking we will find satisfaction, "If only we could get _____________." The problem is, that once we have gained _______________ we are still not satisfied. We move onto the next thing we think we need and the cycle starts again. Advertisers know this and do everything they can to feed our greed. So much so, that people live their lives believing fulfillment is waiting around the next corner at the Jones' house. If we could just be like them... if we could have what they have... all will be good. The result of this belief system is that we end up living in the WHEN rather than the NOW.

"When I find that right person and get married, then I'll be happy."

"When my husband stops drinking, then we can grow closer to God."

"When we have a child, our marriage will definitely improve."

"When I lose this extra weight, then I will be able to do more."

"When I can afford a new car, a better house..."

"When I get a better job..."

"When this project is done..."

"When when when when when....."

"We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise." (2 Corinthians 10:12)

Ladies, this earth will never satisfy. It is corrupt and dying. In the end, it won't matter if you wear a Rolex or a Timex for your time either way is temporary. True joy can only be gained when we submit to our Master and believe that only He is able to fulfill us. For only Jesus is able to give us LIFE. When we accept this truth and are able to praise His name in any and all circumstances (good or bad), we will leave our dead-end "when's" of this world and start living in the "now" of His eternal, holy kingdom!

"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it." (1 Timothy 6:6-7)

Discontentment has little to do with what you have. If you are unhappy as a single woman and believe that marriage is going to make you happy... I'm sorry, but you are deceived. If you are not satisfied in who you are, where you are, and what God has given you TODAY... changing your circumstances will never bring you lasting joy if it is outside of where God has placed you. To live in the hope He has promised, we must learn to be content in whatever our circumstances are RIGHT NOW. For only God knew what would happen a millennium ago and what will happen a thousand years from now. We must trust that His ways are best for us because He lovingly is able to oversee and manage our lives in whole.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Whatever situation we are in TODAY... let us be at peace and thankful. For God's way is enough. Our cups are full if we have accepted Jesus. He has promised to give us exactly what we need and when we need it. Whether we are physically or emotionally uncomfortable should not trump our trust in His perfect plan and authority. Through poverty or plenty, sickness or health, happiness or heartbreak, peace or persecution... our eyes should always be fixed on Him first. We must focus vertically, not horizontally, because He is enough. In Him alone can we find true peace. Next to Him, everything else is rubbish.

"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ." (Philippians 3:7-8)

Ladies, let's stop worrying about what we don't have and be content with what we do. Let's stop looking at what this world dangles before us and instead run into the arms of WHOM our worth and completeness really comes. Our Redeemer is perfect. Period. Let us focus on all that He continues to bless us with in every situation. Under His holy headship, we are complete because we have life in Jesus Christ! Let us live secure in Him and enjoy His kingdom NOW! Let us live in praise and contentment of our salvation TODAY!

"We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18)

Blessings!

~Victoria

© The Devoted Woman | Victoria Anderson