Comparison and Covetousness

   Martha wanted Mary to work like she did.  Jacob wanted Esau’s blessing.  Sarah wanted Haggar’s fertility.  King Saul wanted David’s glory.  Ahab wanted Naboth’s vineyard
And I want_____________________.

   We can all fill in the blank with something...and perhaps many things!

   Covetousness knows no gender, age, or racial boundaries. It is a problem common to man since the earliest days, and  a problem that would be more easily cured if we looked at how it begins. There is another ‘c’ word, “comparison,” that is often the root of coveting. Comparison is fuel to covetousness’ fire.

   Comparison takes a first step of examining one’s own life, which is not a bad thing in and of itself. We should take honest inventory of our life through careful examination on a regular basis.  But comparison is not complete in its definition until we look away from our own things and gaze at those of another. It may start innocently enough. Perhaps we were not discontent with our life, but in a moment of spiritual spaciness, we find that our gaze shifts from what is ours to have and to hold, and lands on our neighbor’s property... or looks... or talents... or wealth. It is at  this point that we begin to compare. We might be fine with what we have, until we look at what our neighbor has...and then it ...

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