Daily Devotional for February 22, 2023

Jeff has the perfect life.  He’s a mechanic who can fix anything and he has the greatest mechanic’s shop in the history of mechanic’s shops.

In looking at Jeff’s mechanical skills and his beautiful shop, I had decided the covet part of the Bible was overrated and it was okay to covet.

Jeff’s abilities and his shop should be mine.  Why?  Because I am good looking.

When I was quarantined at home with COVID, Jeff sent me a picture of a broken-down skid steer, stuck in the mud, next two to porta potties. 

He wrote, “Here’s is a thought…. Next time you feel having a bad day just remember this picture… yup that is what I had to face this morning… freezing temperatures… machine buried in mud totally inoperable.. and oh yeah parked right next to .. two portable potty’s … on a construction site of about 200 workers… while you may be the “world’s greatest preacher “… I am the “world’s greatest mechanic” had it fixed in two hours… unfortunately there are something’s that you just can’t… un hear… (luckily it was cold so minimal smell) sorry just a little “potty”  humor …hang in there we all praying for you.”

Suddenly, I saw a part of Jeff’s life, I did not want.

This got me thinking.

The reason God doesn’t want us to covet is because it demeans the other person, and we don’t really know what we are asking for.

While I would love to have Jeff’s mechanical abilities, I never, in a million years, want to repair a broken-down skid steer next to a porta potty on a construction site.  Certainly, not two.  I will let him keep that experience all to himself.

Do you ever look at someone else’s life, their accomplishments, or their possessions, and think you should have them?  Don’t!  You are opening Pandora’s box and you never know what you will get.

Wherever you are in life, make the very most of it.

Will it be perfect?  No, but you will be living for the higher purpose that God created for you.

Paul warned Timothy to be content and not covet the things of this world by saying, “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:6-10)

The moral of this devotion is if you covet, you may find yourself standing outside a porta potty, fixing a stuck, broken skid steer.  You don’t want that.  Trust me.  Just ask Jeff.

Prayer:  Dear Gracious Heavenly God, please help me be content with the blessings you have given me.  Help me in those moments when I am tempted to covet.  Give me strength, wisdom, and discipline.  In Jesus’ name I pray.

Now that I’ve had some time to think it through, to covet Jeff’s mechanic’s shop would be coveting.  So, I don’t want his shop.  That would be wrong.  I want one just like it.

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins