Coveting

"They" say the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

Or as Tevye pined, in Fiddler on the Roof, "If I were a rich man."

Sometimes we don't appreciate what we have until someone else wants it.

Recently I met a woman--a casual acquaintance of my husband's--who raved about what a good man he is. "I didn't know there were any good men left," she said.

She only knows him because he has shopped at her store a few times, but in the course of those visits, she learned a lot about him.

She didn't tell me anything I didn't already know, but sometimes I need to be reminded.
That's true with many things in life.

Sometimes we wish for a nicer house, newer car, prettier hair, closer family. We get jealous of other people who are better looking, smarter, or richer. But we don't know about the debts they owe, how their kids don't talk to them, or the medical problems they're facing.

According to the Bible, God has given us exactly what we need (see Matthew 6:25-32). When we covet what others have, essentially we are telling God that He doesn't know what He's doing. At those times, what we really need to do is thank God for what He has given us.

Jesus said, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:34, NIV).

God, help me to remember that You have already given me all I need and to appreciate all that You have given me.