Emunah Is the Cure for Coveting
A believer who walks with the Almighty should understand the Hebraic concept of emunah (1).
Emunah is never written to be an intellectual assertion that God exists if you look at the previously linked Strong’s H530 definition.
It is a steadfast trust in God and His promises. The definition of emunah is not some blind belief without evidence, though I will say faith is believing in something despite what you see today. Believe in the promise, not what it looks like in the current moment, and you have a form of emunah.
Without emunah, you lack the desired belief in divine providence that directs each person’s life.
The root of all bitterness and envy is a lack of faithful faith, to put it bluntly.
Why should a person look at what someone else has and think: “They don’t deserve that.” They don’t know that for a fact, mind you, seeing as God is the one who blesses individuals, but they’ll be damned if someone gets ahead or receives something meant for them alone.
God sees the heart and knows what men and women do not know about someone. He does not simply look at the outward appearance or station and judge like mankind does.
There is an ancient parable from the Hebraic sages that describes the hubris of a Roman emperor’s daughter and an encounter with a rabbi. She saw his apparent ugliness on the exterior and thought great Torah wisdom should not ever be contained in such a vessel.
So, he plays a little game with her. He asks her where her father—the emperor—keeps his wine, and she replies it is stored in earthen vessels of clay. He retorts that the emperor should have kept his wine in gold or silver, such as would fit his station.
She immediately demanded that the wine be stored in expensive vessels, and the wine quickly spoiled.
This ancient rabbi, who shares the name of our Messiah Yeshua, taught her a valuable lesson.
Wisdom is best preserved in older people with experience.
We should never judge someone by appearances and assume things about people.
The One who forms the spirit of men and women inside the womb creates each of us with our own unique skills and talents.
A sailor should never envy a Formula 1 driver’s speed and thrill. One is meant to take the waves, whether calm or boisterous, and one is at full throttle.
You might argue that the sailor has a better time changing the intensity of the speed they experience, while the racecar driver hits the gas and zooms. It’s a matter of perspective which is preferable.
A baseball player need not envy an actor, for they are people of prominence in different fields.
They both have a different glory in this world, much like a star differs from another in glory, as Paul states in his letters.
A righteous person does not envy others, nor pay any attention to it in the first place.
If someone hates you unjustly, be glad and rejoice, as Jesus said you are blessed by the Father.
“Why does he get a [car], [woman], [life], like that?” Stupid question.
You don’t know the sacrifice and work ethic that might take. Anything good that happens to us is a blessing from heaven, whether in serendipity or in divine providence. A person who finds a wonderful partner has a great blessing, and we are not to chase things that belong to others.
God has a path for you to take in this life. Follow that path and your emunah will lead you to new heights you otherwise might not have ascended to.
“Why does she have a perfect [body], [hairstyle], [nails], [man]?”
Those things are between that woman and the Father of Lights.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting things in your life. That’s not a sinful desire that comes from the evil inclination.
If you’ve been alone for a long time, you should be open to love and refuse to settle for someone who is not meant for you. It will be right on time, and it will happen beautifully in God’s timing.
It is when we say, “But I want what that guy or gal has,” that we run into breaking the commandment not to covet. Besides, what works for one person may not work for you.
Look at King Solomon. He had 1,000 women in his life, and yet he fell from grace due to not guarding his heart from worshipping false gods and goddesses.
He mentions he had all the things men could want, and yet his focus was wisdom and not putting too much stock into the fading human condition at the end of a life.
“I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart” (Ecclesiastes 2:8 [NIV]).
Solomon knew the heart of a man well, and any red-blooded, straight male loves the opposite sex.
But in his wisdom, he said this:
“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you” (Proverbs 4:25 [ESV]).
In other words, there’s no need to look at what someone on that side of you has, or the other side. Walk straight into the things that are meant for you.
That woman could be that man’s soulmate and intended match. Who are you to desire what belongs to another man (if you’re a man, I mean)?
The tenth commandment warns us not to covet what belongs to other people.
If you have emunah, you don’t need to do such a thing, because you know God’s divine providence will lead you to what is meant for you.
True trust in Yahweh means trusting He has the best plan for you, which includes all the things you desire. If you delight yourself in Him, He will give you the desires of your heart.
People today might call it manifesting the things you want into your life, but I look at it from a theistic perspective.
You might want to collaborate with a certain person, or have a certain income by the end of the year. You might want to take a few weeks to visit France or New Zealand.
If you trust in Yahweh, He will open those doors for you at the proper time if your heart posture is correct.
Sometimes He’ll answer your prayers differently than you expected, but He might have something far grander planned for you.
My path is my path, and not Joe down the street’s path.
Theoretical Joe will not have the same walk I must walk.
And that’s part of what makes our world so interesting.
Have real emunah and trust in Yahweh.
Don’t worry about what other people have instead of you, and you’ll find you’ll get the things meant for you with your heart in the right alignment with His will.
Blessings and shalom to you! May everything you put your hand to increase in this next season of your life!
