Covetousness by Jeff Beman

Exodus 20:17 “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 neighbors.”

Luke 12:15  "And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for ones life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

While I was on active duty, I regularly entered various marksmanship events. As you might imagine, the competition was stiff. I considered myself quite good with a rifle, but so was everyone else in the Marine Corps. However, one year, I managed to claim 7th place in the USMC Far Eastern Marksmanship Competition, Pistol Division. I received a small trophy about 6 or 7 inches tall, while my buddy, who competed also, placed just after me in 8th place, and received a large neck ribbon mounted medallion that was way, way “cooler” than my little trophy.

I didn’t lose sleep over this or anything, but I did feel slighted for quite a while. Months at least, but eventually I was able to let it go and only occasionally feel like I should have had that cool looking medallion rather than my buddy.

My envy of his award is just another way to say I coveted it. At least 18 passages in the Bible speak of the sin of covetousness. And as we all should know; any sin is the same as all sin.

Our Father- We are ashamed of our sinful desires. We ask your help in cleansing our lives from all sin. We claim the complete atonement from all our sins through the sacrifice of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.