COVETING OR SEEKING GOD'S KINGDOM?

As I was looking for on-line devotionals I found this outline of a teaching on COVETING OR SEEKING GOD'S KINGDOM. As usual, when talking about coveting they were talking about money and material things. Is it still coveting when you are jealous about the opportunities someone has. Or is jealousy different than coveting? Coveting is very "chirstianese", that's the term I like to use for words that are commonly used umong Christians that aren't usually used with the general public as much. Let's see if we can find out the difference if any between jealousy and coveting.

Exodus 20:17 (New International Version)
"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."


The "Free Dictionary" by Farlex defines coveting as:
1. To feel blameworthy desire for (that which is another's). See Synonyms at envy.
2. To wish for longingly. See Synonyms at desire

It defines jealousy as:
1. jealousy - a feeling of jealous envy (especially of a rival)
2. jealousy - zealous vigilance; "cherish their official political freedom with fierce jealousy"-Paul Blanshard

OK so jealouy and coveting are very closely related, tied together by envy. Coveting just implies a sense of responsibility for possessing the envy.

Envy is defined as:
1. a. A feeling of discontent and resentment aroused by and in conjunction with desire for the possessions or qualities of another.
b. The object of such feeling: Their new pool made them the envy of their neighbors.
2. Obsolete Malevolence.

I feel pretty clear on what envy is, I think most of us were probably understand the idea envy. So, here's my thought. We often talk, in Christian circles, about coveting material things, but we don't often talk about coveting non-material things that people have. I think I am currently struggling with coveting the opportunities and gifts of one of my friends.

Why don't we talk more about this in church? Because we all have been given good gifts and sometimes we get confused about gifts that other have. I think we all know in our heads that we are grateful and appreciative of the gifts that God gives other people. But sometimes the world's economy starts to creep in and we start see people get attention from leaders because of the gifts they have. We want that attention as well and so we figure we need those gifts to get it.

So, in my estimation, the minute we take our eyes off God for validation of our actions (or even our lives). We get confused.

Jesus, help me keep my eyes on you. It's hard right now. My time is so fragmented and I'm having to learn a whole new way to be close to you. Quiet meditaion does not come readily to a new mom. Forgive my envious heart. Help me see your will for my life. Amen.

Romans 13:9 (New International Version)
The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Proverbs 14:30 (New International Version)
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

Ecclesiastes 4:4 (New International Version)
And I saw that all labor and all achievement spring from man's envy of his neighbor. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.

Matthew 7:20-23 (New International Version)
He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' "