BLESSED AND UNGRATEFUL

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house… thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

Exodus 20:17 King James Version (KJV) 

The desire to have something that you don’t have is common. People, without jobs, want a job. The same concept can apply with money, a spouse, a business, and the list can go on. Generally, people should want things they don’t have. Desires and dreams are something everyone should have. To achieve, progress, grow, expand and to advance is good.

Now, to possess something, someone else has, may be a problem. Covet means to want something you do not have, or the desire for something that belongs to another.

If you are looking at an individual and their possessions as a role model, or as an example, how one day, you can have the type of things they possess, this may be a good thing. If you set moral and legal goals and inventions to achieve the dream.

However, if the desire becomes an obsession, or you want to have exactly what they have, for example, you want their husband; their wife; their money; and begin to create devious means to obtain them, this is covetousness. I believe most people realize this is wrong. And if that don’t realize this, they need more than this post, they need prayers and God.

Here is the twist to this directive. Something that may not be considered. When you stay in a constant mode of wanting what you don’t have, you run a risk of not being content, with what you do have. There is nothing wrong with wanting to advance, but you must learn to be content with what you have, right now.

You finally get you studio apartment, but, now you want a one bedroom. You hear someone has a 3-bedroom apartment and now you must have that. Your mind is already set on purchasing a 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom home. You are not allowing contentment to settle in your mind or heart. You may find yourself  never being satisfied in your present state. Never giving thanks, for what you have, leads in ungratefulness.

As the world turns, ungratefulness is sweeping the nation, the world. Media, advertisements have set up discontentment. Smart phones, game sets, vehicles, electronic devices, as soon as they are purchased, a new version hits the market with updated bells and whistles that your version does not possess. Now, you desire the newest mode.

Always wanting what others have + discontentment + not appreciating what you do have = ungratefulness.

If you find yourself in this state, think about the ramifications, from your actions. Are you raising ungrateful children? Are they taking cues for you? Remember, children mimics what they see. Many parents want to give their children more than they had. Often parents shower their children with state of the art, expensive devices, without any effort or work, from the children. Children may begin to take things for granted. Offering little or no thanks.  And, if this behavior is not checked, a sense of entitlement can evolve. These children begin to think, they have the right to receive things, with no work. They go out into the world expecting the same outcome. And, many  will learn the world do not to treat you same way, as your parents.

There is yet another twist to this directive. This twist addresses the individuals that are being content, with nothing. They have no or very little drive to come out of their situation. A dream might spark, an effort may be attempted, and the first sign of opposition, the dream is abandoned.

Or, the participants, of this group, covet other people’s possession and allow envy, jealousy, resentment to set in. They may develop a woe is me mentality. They think someone owes them something. They blame everyone for their situation and misfortunates. It can be their parents, employment, the government, society, or the world. Many remain in their present situation, while others perform illegal or ill moral acts to get what they think they should have.

In summary:

• Thank God for your blessings.
• Stop being jealous or envious of others.
• Set personal goals to achieve your dreams.
• Be content with what you have.
• Be a good example for your children.
• Teach your children to be thankful.
• Help others, less fortunate, to achieve their goals.