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Dt. 5:21-22; Romans 13:8-10; Phil. 2:4; James 4:1-4 “Respecting Our Lot” 9/1/11 communion homily
The last of the Ten Commands has a double negative- “You shall not…You shall not.” Many have said this is because this command is so serious and is one we are sorely tempted to transgress.

Abraham Lincoln was walking down the street with his two sons who were crying-- hard. Someone asked him, “What’s wrong?” Lincoln replied, “What’s wrong with them is what’s wrong with the whole world. I have three walnuts and each of them wants two!” The last of the Ten Commandments is one that effects the whole world. As James said, “You covet, but do not get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.” Luther said of this command that it was the one that applied to everyone, but especially church people, because we can hide it. All other sins he said were easy to see, but this one allows us to put up a fine front to conceal our rascality.”

The word “covet” has become so foreign to us, that it needs some redefinition. Coveting is wanting what somebody else already has. John Leith said that coveting plays havoc with things, with our own life, and with other people.

1) COVETING AFFECTS OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD THINGS- The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim. 6:10). Jesus said to beware the deceit of riches. Covetousness allows our possessions to possess us. God gives us all that we have. Contrary to what some think- it is not evil to possess things- all we have is a gift from God. But it is evil to live for things- to give your heart and soul solely for this world. There is a line- a not-so-fine-line, between coveting and getting our needs met. When our wants become our needs, that is how we get into debt. This command gives us some ammunition for self- control, to hold back so our desires do not have mastery over us.
Yet we live in a consumer culture where it is difficult and hard to not covet. But God wants us to be content with what He has given us. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (1984-95) was a TV show trying to make us drool over how other people live. The host of the show ended each episode saying, “Champagne wishes and caviar dreams.” Today it is MTV Cribs and CMT Cribs. Many of the Celebrity shows try to get us to want what we can’t have.
I once knew a man whose every desire turned into their perceived need. They bought a house when they could not really afford a downpayment- because everyone of their friends was buying a house. Then they bought a car because you need a car to get to work- of course they didn’t just buy a used clunker- but a really nice car. None of their friends had clunkers. Then they bought some really, really nice furniture. They didn’t go to GOoDWorks and they didn’t take used furniture from their parents- because they “needed” new furniture, because their friends didn’t get used furniture. Then, they lost their house, they lost their car, they lost their furniture because they couldn’t say no. I think the losing was more humiliating than the temporary thrill of gaining. When you are trying to keep up with the Joneses- coveting has gotten a hold of you, and it is really hard to let go. The opposite of greed is generosity. If you want to save your life, let go of it. Loosen up your fist. Do not let the deceitfulness of riches hold you.

2) COVETING AFFECTS OUR OWN PEACE- When you are continually wanting what you don’t have, it takes away from your own abilty to have peace and contentment. The opposite of coveting is not apathy or indifference. But the opposite of coveting is thanksgiving and peace which enables generosity. We have a personal God who in His providence provides for our needs. We have more than most- but still do not have enough. We have been blessed physically, socially, mentally and spiritually. I think of the starving children- 29,000 have starved to death in August in Kenya and Somalia. The median gdp/capita is about $8,000/year (about like Peru). Uganda is $400/year; Kenya $450/year. America is about $48,000/year or $4,000/month. We do not have that here. We have been blessed with a good health care system. In America, if you want to, you can learn a whole lot. We have been blessed by being able to hear and respond to the good news of Christ. We can be more blessed than 90% of the world, but we can feel miserable because we are not the top 5%. There was a time when people fought against consumerism, but now I believe we have surrendered to it. Commercials pop up on the TV, now they are everywhere on the internet. Some say it is good business, but unrestricted commercialism can tempt us to covetousness and lack of peace and misery. We have been duped into thinking we don’t have enough. Statistics say that Americans are cutting back on the number of children. The main reason is “we can’t afford to have more.” Yet, our houses are generally much bigger than the ones we grew up in. Moehler said, "Covetousness endangers the soul more than any heresy"; Covetousness endangers families more than any tragedy. Household debt is often caused by unrestrained covetousness. The number one reason marriages break up- is not just money- but covetousness. We have enough money- but the debt and the wanting more tears marriages apart. The really great news- is we have all we need. There are two opposites of covetousness. One is to look out for others above yourself (as I mentioned earlier); the other is to give thanks for your blessings. Count your many blessings see what God has done!

3) COVETING AFFECTS OUR ATTITUDES TOWARD OTHERS- Coveting to the extreme is illustrated in the biblical story of Ahab the Old Testament king. He was one of the wealthiest most powerful kings in the Bible. But he saw the vineyard of his neighbor and he wanted it. He pined and complained about his desire. He made an offer to buy it, but the offer was refused. So his wife, named Jezebel, said she would take care of it. So she had Naboth killed, and then Ahab took the land. A prophet rebuked him.
Coveting takes our eyes off of our neighbor and God and places our focus squarely on ourselves. We only look at neighbors as someone who might have something we want. I can remember going to an elderly lady’s house years ago, and a grandchild came to see her. The grandchild had just gotten where they could start talking. She went through the house, and said she wanted this, wanted that. Then she looked at her grandmother and asked- uninhibitedly, “When are you going to die so that I can get these things?” That’s a little bit like the attitude of the Prodigal Son. The scriptures says (Phil. 2:3,4)- “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.” If you are looking to the interest of others instead of what others have that you may want, covetousness fades, and contentment and neighborly love gains. Calvin spoke of the command do not covet with these very thoughtful words: “God wills our souls to be disposed to love, therefore we must banish all desires contrary to love.” Today we will have communion. Communion is a reminder that we are to love as Christ loved us- giving himself up for us. Loving us His neighbor more than His own comfort.

On this Labor day weekend, we should know that we are called to work- not because we covet; Not because we are in debt. Not because we need a bigger house or a newer car. We work for the glory of God. Putting the focus of our work and our lives on God and neighbor steels us against covetousness.