I Want What You Have

The word “covet” in various forms is found 25 times in the King James Bible. Not as many in other translations because it is translated into different words similar to covet: Loved money, greed or greedy, dishonest or ill-gotten gain, selfish gain, craves, etc. Actually the word “covetousness” is used the most in the KJV and translates primarily into “sinful greed”.

While I was studying for this lesson I came up on this passage in the King James Bible.
For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. Isaiah 57:17 KJV
As most of you know I personally have a lot of trouble understanding the KJV so I looked this up in the NIV Bible to see if I could understand it better.
I was enraged by their sinful greed; I punished them, and hid my face in anger, yet they kept on in their willful ways. Isaiah 57:17 NIV

This is why I prefer the NIV or NLT. ’nuff said about this subject – back to the “real” lesson.

Dictionary Definitions are: to wish for earnestly, to desire what belongs to another, to feel “unreasonable” desire for what belongs to another

The word “covet” usually thought of in negative terms. We get this from the 10th Commandment – Exodus 20:17: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” In most cases the Bible refers to this term in a negative manner. However, there are some positive aspects to this word – covet.

When we research “covet” more, it seems that this word can be translated 3 different ways in Greek (This is the case for many other words, such as love). It can mean “to fix the desire upon”, “to covet earnestly” and “to stretch after,”
Today we want to look at this idea in a positive way. There are times when there is nothing wrong with “fixing one’s desire upon” a thing or “stretching after” something — depending upon the object that you are reaching for. For that reason, the word is used in a positive sense when the object for which one seeks is good.
We know that the Christian should never covet worldly things (Col. 3:1-3; 1 John 2:15). It is the goal, however, of Christians to be “coveted” by people around them. When we exemplify Christ in our lives, many people will say with sincerity and zeal, “I want what you have.”
The Christian’s quality of life is noticed by friends, relatives, associates, and neighbors, and there is no worldly or material explanation for it. This is the goal of which the Lord spoke, when he said, “…..let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16).
So what does the Christian have that non-Christians don’t? What should someone “covet” or “want” when they sincerely contemplate the life of a child of God? I looked up some words for synonyms for the word “contemplate”: chew over, cogitate, consider, ponder, debate, deliberate, entertain, eye, kick around, meditate, mull (over), pore (over), question, revolve, study, think (about or over), weigh, wrestle (with).
Are we ready for a non-Christian to use any of the above words in conjunction with our Christian lives? We should be. Our prayer each day should be that someone can see Jesus in us!
As a Christian we are “are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus”. Galatians 3:26 NLT. And “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.” Romans 8:14. Okay, so what does a Christian have?
The Christian “Has Peace with God”
“Therefore, since we have been justified (NLT says “made right”) through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).
This peace of mind is the result of being right with God. This is no mere emotion, although it is wonderful and gratifying. It is the understanding that sin separates us from God (Eph. 2:1), and that Jesus Christ has died for our sins (1 John. 2:1-2). It is the action one takes to “get himself right with God,” through the plan that the Lord has disclosed in the Bible (Heb. 5:9; Mark 16:16).
Understanding what God did, and doing what the Lord requires, results in peace – “God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.” (Phil. 4:7 NLT).
Christians “Have grace”
Paul reminds us that as Christians, “we have grace.”
“…through (Jesus Christ) whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” (Rom. 5:2a).
“Justified” (v. 1) is equivalent to being “acquitted.” We are, however, not acquitted because we are innocent, for “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23). We are “made right in God’s sight” because Christ Jesus suffered the penalty for us, and this is the grace of God in action. We have access to the favor of God, which we could never earn nor deserve, through the death of Jesus. And it is in the favor of God that his faithful children remain.
Christians “Have Hope”
“…And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.” (Rom. 5:2b).
Being right with God is important because of the future. Judgment awaits all (1 Tim. 4:1), and we must be prepared to “meet our Maker” (Heb. 9:27).
Christians can have confidence about the future. If we are truly a “child of God” we will go to Heaven (1 John 5:13; Rev. 2:10). This realization ought to motivate every Christian to be excited to be in God’s service.
Therefore Christians: “boast in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:2
The future is awesome to contemplate (there’s that word again). The word “awesome” may be one of the most over-used words today, but when used of the “hope of the glory of God,” it does not seem adequate. To be in the presence of God, our Creator and Redeemer will be AWESOME.
Christians “Have Joy”
“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. (Rom. 5:2-5 NLT).
This could be described as insight into the meaning of life. Children of God even view the anxieties and tragedies of life from a divine perspective (this is sometimes hard for us to do) — with an understanding that this world is not all that matters. When the experiences of life make us long for heaven, we can view distressing times with an element of joy. Anything that makes us want to go to heaven is of great spiritual value.
Christians “Have God’s Love”
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. (Rom. 5:6-9). Also, we can refer back to last week’s lesson on John 3:16, “For God so loved the world….”
The Children of God have learned and experienced the saving love of God. We’ve seen the proof of God’s love, and we have enjoyed its benefits. We constantly should develop a greater appreciation for it (Eph. 3:17-19).
What we have, the world needs. May God help us to love and live the Christian life. When we do, someone will notice, and they’ll want what we have been given.
Does anyone say about us “I want what you have”?

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