Covetousness

Luke 12:15  And he said to them,“Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”


Abundance seems to be everything to most Americans, even those who don't have anything. Even the poor covet being rich. I've always thought that covetousness, the tenth commandment, was the one we humans almost all have trouble with. Sometimes I think people put Jesus words in the context of wanting something that someone else has in their possession, but read it again. Life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. It is not just wanting what others possess, it is in having what others should possess. As I sit here going back and forth between my Ibook laptop, and my Ipad, soon to be in the car heading for the golf course listening to my Ipod, I feel that conspicuous listen to yourself Boynton voice of God stabbing at me. I knowI'm one of the almost all humans are covetous people. I have more than I NEED while others have less than they NEED. I could say I worked hard for this, but that doesn't solve the God problem. I was lucky to be born with smart genes, does that mean I should have a life of abundance. Jesus in the parable of the talents did not let the servants keep the results of their labor, he required that they be given to the master and then they received the reward. We want the reward when we keep the benefits of his generosity for ourselves, as if we are entitled to so much more because we deserve abundance.


I didn't even spend time on the word before covetousness in the gospel. That three letter word all. He didn't excuse a little or expect that we would be entitled to some. He said all covetousness. Jesus never let's us rest in comfort if we take his words seriously.