General Reflections

TuesdayReflection

16^th May 2023

J.John invites us

'to understand the problems of materialism and
outlines principles to help us truly find contentment.'

we want
what we haven't got

It does seem to be a universal truth that we want what we haven't got.
But the tenth commandment says don't do it, and it's not hard to see why.
'You shall not covet'...your neighbour's house, wife, servant, ox, donkey -
anything, in fact, that belongs to your neighbour.

Coveting is about wrong desires, and the effects they have on our actions
are clear to see.
Nobody has been imprisoned for the crime of 'coveting' itself, but the domino
effect is dangerous - look at King David in the Bible.
Coveting his army chief's wife led to adultery, lies, abuse of his position and,
finally, murder.
Breaking the tenth commandment led to him breaking the sixth, seventh and
ninth as well.

We all have desires that are God-given.
I believe that the desires to be loved, to feel worthwhile, to belong, to feel secure
and to be happy are from God.

The problem with covetousness is that so often it points us to the wrong answer.

We try to find fulfilment for those legitimate desires in money, things, fame even,
instead of turning to our creator God, the one who understands our needs,
and made and knows our hearts.

An anonymous poet wrote about the limitations of material wealth:

Money can buy medicine, but it cannot buy health.
Money can buy a house, but not a home.
Money can buy companionship, but not friendship.
Money can buy entertainment, but not happiness.
Money can buy food, but not an appetite.
Money can buy a bed, but not sleep.
Money can buy a crucifix, but not a saviour.

In today's world, we fear and worry about all sorts of things.

One of the big ones is that we don't have enough money or will lose what we do have.
We believe the lie that it gives us security and makes us immune to life's problems.

Covetousness, wanting what we don't have, makes us live as if our survival depended on
our own efforts. Taking our lives into our own hands means we've taken them out of God's,
and I believe the only lasting security is to be found in him.

Jesus encourages us, time and time again, to trust in God:

'Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink;
or about your body, what you will wear,' he said.
'Is not life more important than food,
and the body more than clothes?'

.... Matthew 6:25 NIV

Things provide an illusion of security, not the reality.
More than 370 times in the Bible God says we needn't fear.
Not because bad things don't happen,
but because we can trust him with our lives.

God tells us time and time again to trust in him,
to let him work on our hearts, to mould them into wanting what
is good and true, spiritually and emotionally, and
that we'll find lasting - eternal - fulfilment in that, and in him.

In this first session from the 'just10 'series,
J.John helps us to understand the problems of materialism and
outlines principles to help us truly find contentment.

Imagine a world where love guides every attitude and action.
A community where people respect others.
A place where God is recognised and respected.

God revealed the framework for life as it should be -
simple statements for life that provide the foundations of our
values and principles called the Ten Commandments.

Sadly, society has moved from these absolute truths.
How can we reclaim these timeless truths and apply them
in our world today?

The old saying 'the grass is always greener on the other side'
is quite simply not true!
In this first session on the tenth commandment, J.John
helps us to understand the problems of materialism and
outlines principles to help us truly find contentment.

It may be interesting to watch a video

'How to Find True Contentment'
Click here

An ideal accompaniment to J.John's just10 series,
available at just10.org.
group