The Right Side of the Coin

Coveting is an issue as old as Adam and Eve. They wanted what they weren’t supposed to have.

Coveting means “to be consumed with desire for, to yearn or hunger for, to have one’s heart set on.”

It became such a problem back in the day, that God put it on his Top 10 list: you know… The 10 commandments (Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5.)

It’s no different today… I want, and I want, and I want some more.

Jesus puts it like this in Matthew 6:21: *“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” *

What’s the end game? There’s a never-ending desire for more, because, well… there’s always the lure for more, right?! It’s the sin in who we are.

Does this mean we’re doomed? Absolutely not.

Ultimately, the goal of every Christian should be to live a Christ-centered life and pursue things that glorify God and bring us (and others) closer to Jesus. Starting with these two questions is fundamental to approaching our pursuits:

1. How do I align to God’s will?
2. And am I in step with the Holy Spirit?

They can be a lifesaver—and a critical forcing function in helping you avoid the “other side of the coin.” On the one side, goals aligned to God’s will and His Spirit are rooted in surrender, humility and a focus on eternal things. On the other side, goals aligned to MY will are generally rooted in things of the flesh, like pride and greed, and a focus on earthly outcomes. If I’m not careful, what starts as a healthy dream can quickly become an unhealthy pursuit of things God doesn’t intend for me to have.

But there is an antidote to coveting that can keep us on track. We call it the 5 Pillars of Financial Discipleship.

Similar to Paul teaching us to “put on the full armor of God” in Ephesians 6, five areas can set you free from the bondage of coveting, and help you find contentment in the true riches—growing in the attitudes, behaviors, goals and outcomes that align to Christ and His kingdom:

• Ownership – Embrace the fact that God owns it all. Our role is to steward what He has entrusted us with (1 Chronicles 29:1-20).
• Surrender – Ask God to help you through a heart change today, and invite the Holy Spirit to live His life through you (Luke 9:23-26; Luke 14:33).
• Choice – Choose God over money, possessions and anything else pulling your heart away from serving Jesus (Matthew 19:16-29).
• Multiplication – “Flip the script” and commit to bear fruit for God through generosity, serving others and disciple making (Matthew 25:14-30).
• Eternal Focus – Keep your eye on the prize and play the long (eternal) game. Pursue the goals God cares most about (1 Timothy 6:2b-21).

For more information on our 5 Pillars of Financial Discipleship, check out Compass1.org.