Join us sundays at 8:00 & 10:30 AM

Wednesday, September 2 - Devotional from Pastor John

September 2, 2020 by Rev. John Hartman

“The Greener Grass Syndrome”

As I continue my series of devotionals this week on the tenth commandment, to be clear, God forbids that we have a “covetous mindset.” Did you know that in the original draft of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote that all people had the inalienable rights of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of possessions?” The committee looked at that phrase and decided it just didn’t sound right. So, they changed it to the “pursuit of happiness.” It’s all because of this tenth commandment. Covetousness and a pursuit of possessions puts us on a never ending treadmill of wants, and puts in us an insatiable desire of more and more, until we’re like the thirstiest person in the world, ready to drink salt water. In commandments 1-8, God says, “Here is what you do.” In commandment 9, God says, “Here is what you say.” And in the tenth, God says, “Here is how you THINK.” In other words, not only aren’t you suppose to steal your neighbor’s house, you’re not supposed to COVET your neighbor’s house, -- or anything else that belongs to your neighbor. In fact, God says, “Don’t even think about it!”

Covetousness has also been called the “Greener Grass Syndrome.” Our best friend gets a job promotion and a hefty raise, and we look over the back fence and we see all that green grass. Or, the newest Apple I-Phone comes out, and we look and see all that shiny, greener grass. Or, we go shopping with our best friend, and she is able to fit beautifully into the same size dress as her wedding gown which was 15 years ago, and all of sudden, we are the ones who are green with envy. And let’s be honest, we all have this weak spot. We see something, we like what we see, and we begin to tell ourselves that we have to have it.

I love the story from pastor Chuck Swindoll. He says, “Every morning as I drive to my office I pass a sight that leaves me drooling. I smash my nose against the glass and stare as long as I possibly can before checking back into reality. The object of my glare is a sleek, shiny boat that sits neatly backed into a driveway. Its fiberglass, shallow hull is deep blue, and the boat, along with its tailored trailer, is spotless. The wrap-around windshield is trimmed in dazzling chrome, the engine sparkles in the light of dawn, the accessories and special features reveal quality and class. Only one thing is missing — ME! The boat has the wrong owner!”

Friends, you could come into possession of every item in the world, and as wonderful as that sounds, you would not necessarily find happiness. Now possessions are wonderful things, as the eighth commandment affirms, but we need the tenth commandment to remind us that they are addictive, and that possessions do not buy happiness. The Apostle Paul wrote, “There is great gain in godliness combined with contentment” (I Timothy 6:6). This commandment is about being content. God says, “Be thankful for what you have.” May you be thankful, grateful, faithful, and content in all of the blessings that God has given to you.