The greatest fallacy of our current world is
covetousness. The "haves" and the "have nots" are polar
opposites. Many of those who do not have, believe there is nothing wrong with
taking from those who do have. Theft and murder, home invasions, are on the rise.
Thieves do not even wait until the cover of darkness,
they will break into a home in the afternoon when everyone is at home. They tie
people up, gag them, force one of them to go to the bank and empty their
accounts and turn everything over to the thief.
Admiring a person's wife or personal possessions is not
enough for them (Deuteronomy 5:21). They want, without working for it, what the
other person has; and they want it now. At times, desperation will fuel a
person to use desperate means to provide for their family; however, some people
are just too lazy to work.
The Bible encourages us to rejoice when someone rejoices
and to show empathy when someone suffers loss (Romans 12:15). Did someone buy a
new home with unusual architecture and modern conveniences? Rejoice with them.
Did someone inherit a large sum of money and use it
wisely to better their circumstances? Rejoice with them. Did someone find a
great deal on a new car? Rejoice with them.
There is too much tragedy in our world to add to it by
coveting what our neighbor or family member has. Weep with them; but we also
rejoice when someone is blessed, even if it is a greater portion of blessing
than we received.
Prayer:
Father God, remind us that every good and perfect gift
comes directly from You. You are the Father of Lights and You bless those who
walk in your ways (James 1:17). You even bless the sinner, which causes
grumbling among the ranks of those who faithfully serve You. Yet, through this
You show us that You willing allow Your rain of blessings to fall on the just
and the unjust (Matthew 5:45).
You show Your love to thousands of generations, which
proceed from those who love You - blessing our children and their children
throughout the years, even beyond our day of our death - which is our
deliverance from the ties of this earth (Exodus 20:6). Your ways are perfect
and we want to have more of the mind of Christ and less of the mindset of this
world (Philippians 2:5), so that we can rejoice in another's good fortune.
Thought for the Day:
People who seek wealth often fall into a snare and their
foolish, harmful desires plunge them into destructive behavior and its
consequences, which causes them to fall away from their faith in God and to
reap grief and sorrow for themselves. - 1 Timothy 6:9-10
