I went to a Miami Dolphins football game in December. They were playing the visiting New York Giants, so it was interesting to see how many supporters there were on both sides. But something someone sitting in the row behind me said got my attention, and I’ve been thinking about it ever since…
She and a few of her accompanying friends spent some time talking about money and how much things cost. One of their friends decided to sit in a different section of the stadium halfway through the game, because he purchased box seats. So, after he left, the rest of them were racking their brains, “How does he have box seats?” “How did he afford that?” and on and on.
For all I know, he could’ve gotten the ticket as a gift, or he could’ve bought it himself. But the point is… it’s not my place to speculate on how someone affords the things they have.
God is the only One who is entitled to judge (James 4:12). That’s No. 1. If we’re going to call ourselves friends to others, we’re not in their lives to judge them. We’re there to uplift, encourage and correct with love. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Taking a moment to reflect on their conversation at the game, the only reason why they spent 20 minutes wondering how their friend got a box seat, is because they wanted what he had. That leads me to my second point: One of the Lord’s 10 commandments is not to covet (Exodus 20:17).
Understand that what is for you is for you. And what is for someone else is for someone else. It can get very dangerous coveting after someone else, because jealousy can grow to become envy. And envy can turn into hate.
In the New Testament, our two greatest commandments were to love the Lord, our God, with all our heart, mind, and soul; and to love others as we love ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40).
Take this time today to think back to a time you coveted after what someone else had. Maybe that was five months ago… or maybe it was this morning. Ask God to help you see that everything you need is already right in front of you.
With gratitude,
Melody Kerr
P.S. Want to know more about what the Bible says about coveting? Check out the “Coveting” devotion in The Bible on Money. And if you missed it, head over to our Blog and read last week’s article from our CEO, Brandon Sieben, on coveting, “The Right Side of the Coin.”
I’ve come to know that “Finding True Contentment” is one of the best ways not to covet. Compass Australia founding member Gwenda Jayawardhana reminded us of that…
Melody Kerr is Managing Editor and Author of the Compass Blog.
Melody earned a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Florida in 2014, and a master’s in global strategic communications from Florida International University in 2017. She has worked in editing since 2014 and currently works as an editor for a financial publishing company in Boynton Beach, Fla.
In 2020, Melody discovered her passion in personal finance and writing, as well as a closer relationship with the Lord after joining a Compass—Finances God’s Way study. Since then, she founded financial coaching business Centsible Finance LLC and publishes the free e-letter Making Cents.
Melody joined the Compass Florida board at the end of 2021, is the editor for the Compass blog and serves as a facilitator and trainer for the Building Your Finances God’s Way study. In her free time, she also volunteers as a financial coach for MoneyWise, an organization that teaches personal finance from a biblical perspective.
