Do you know what are the Biblical ways to stop coveting? Do you find yourself often in a situation where you compare yourself with somebody else and before you even notice, you start coveting?
You scroll the Facebook feed and you see it – this person has got something you want to have. Instead of joy, you feel a knot in your stomach, and you think: “I want to be in her place. She seems to get all this that I want.” And you start coveting: this person’s success, position, her network, her way of working, her style and so the list goes on. This is a downward spiral that clouds our hearts and makes us miserable.
There is a better way to live when we stop coveting and start committing instead. We need to replace coveting with a commitment to be all this God has created us to be. We should be willing to run in our lane and commit to growth and development to become the truest version of ourselves.
We need to replace coveting with a commitment to be all this God has created us to be. #commitment #growth #purpose Share on XRemember to pin me for later!
5 Reasons to Stop Coveting
- You will never be the truest version of yourself while you covet and harbor resentment, jealousy, and feelings of inferiority or superiority.
- The person and her success are not your enemy and not a threat. There is a place for everybody. In fact, we are invited to pray for more workers because the harvest is plentiful. (Matthew 9:37-38)
- You will lose your motivation and neglect your passion.
- You will lose your joy and peace.
- Your fellowship with God will suffer.
7 Ways to Stop Coveting and Start Committing
- Discern your coveting attitude and repent.
- Remember who you are and the source of your identity. Ask the Lord to establish you in your identity in Christ and in the truth formula: you + Christ = enough.
- Seek the Lord for a clearer vision of who you are, your unique giftings, calling, and responsibility.
- Believe what the Lord says and let Him imprint and establish the vision in your heart and life.
- Commit to becoming this vision and version of yourself.
- Seek the Lord for your own path He has crafted for you and your life. (Psalm 16:11).
- Re-direct your desires and dreams to the Lord and align them with His vision for you. (Proverbs 16:3, Psalm 37:5)
Bible Verses About Commitment
The Bible has a lot to say about commitment. To each of us, God has given a sphere of service, a portion of the field, a specific assignment and responsibility that only you and nobody else could fulfill. Even when several workers work on one part of the field, each of them has a different gifting, approach, and way of working. We work and hope that God will expand our sphere of activity and influence.
Here are three Scripture passages to guide us and motivate us in the process of committing.
Guidelines from 1 Timothy 4:12-16
- Be an example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Character first!
- Devote yourself to the ministry you have been given.
- Do not neglect your gift.
- Be diligent, give yourself wholly to this, so that everyone may see your progress.
- Watch your life and doctrine closely.
- Persevere in them because this is the way you work out your salvation and help others to do the same.
Guidelines from Galatians 6:4-5
- Test your own actions and work. Prove and examine your work comparing it only to the previous level.
- Take pride in your own work without comparing yourself to someone else, for each one should carry their own load.
Guidelines from 2 Corinthians 10:12-18
- Boast to the sphere of service God has assigned to you and not with the work of somebody else.
- Keep boasting in the Lord.
- Aim to become an approved worker who the Lord commends, not a worker who commends himself.
- Trust that as you boast in the Lord and run faithfully in your lane, the Lord takes the initiative to commend and promote you, establishing you with His seal of approval.
What Happens When We Stop Coveting and Keep On Committing?
The outcomes of a lifestyle of commitment to God’s purposes and desires for us and our lives are:
- Increasing happiness, contentment, and satisfaction.
- Stable and unwavering motivation.
- Burning passion to do the things we are called to do.
- Spiritual and personal growth.
- Bringing glory and honor to God.
More Encouragement for You
If you need more resources, encouragement, and help in finding your calling and living out your purpose, I can highly recommend these books. Check them out.
Dream Big by Bob Goff
My Journey to Finding My Identity, Calling & Assignment by Susan Cooper Creel
What Is My Calling? by William W. Klein and Daniel J. Steiner
Identity, Calling, and Workplace Spirituality by Thomas V. Frederick and Scott E. Dunbar
Your Purpose Is Calling: Your Difference Is Your Destiny by Dharius Daniels
Identity: Discover Who You Are and Live a Life of Purpose by T.D. Jakes
Courage and Calling: Embracing Your God-Given Potential by Gordon T. Smith
This page contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. The commission I make from these items will help keep this blog going. Thank you!
Your Turn
Do you struggle with coveting? If this article has helped you, I would be happy if you share it on social media and comment. Thanks!
Do you want to replace coveting with a commitment to be and do all this God has created you to? Then grab my Printable Workbook “Committing to Your Calling in 10 Days”! It will guide you step-by-step through the process with action steps, Scripture, questions, and guided prayer. Get the workbook HERE!
When we run in our lane and commit to God’s ways to grow and mature us, we become the truest versions of ourselves. #spiritualmaturity #encouragement #COMPELTraining Share on X
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I stumbled on these articles about coveting while trying to find a biblical explanation, and while scrolling I realized that God wants to pin point something in my life. Thank you.
Thanks so much, Sheila! I am glad God guided you to read this post and that it resonated with you. I am praying blessings over you!
I find this topic as an eye opener to my own nature. As a person, I just discovered that I compare a lot. And its effect is very devastating. I think I will have to be more grateful to God.
Thanks, Ebun! Yes, comparing can have very bad consequences in our life. Being grateful to God and expressing our gratefulness is definitely a grat way to shift our perspective and have more peace.
To God get all the Glory….. I Thank you for shining light on converting, God allow me to see me and I confess this me and I repent and God, to help me and to seek His face concerning His vision for my life. God bless you.
Thanks, Jennifer! I am happy that the post encouraged you. Blessings to you!
I struggle with a feeling of insecurity and inadequacy. For that reason, covetous thoughts frequent my mind. Your tips are wonderful. I agree that being diligent in your area of gifting is how we stay committed in our piece of the field.
I understand. Our insecurities are fruitful soil for comparison and coveting. But we have a choice. Choosing to focus on our identity in Christ and on our field, and allowing God to grow our confidence, is the path leading to growth and satisfaction.
To God get all the Glory….. I Thank you for shining light on converting, God allow me to see me and I confess this me and I repent and God, to help me and to seek His face concerning His vision for my life. God bless you.
Thanks, Jennifer! Praying for God’s guidance and instruction in your life! Blessings!
Unfortunately, I struggle with comparison. Your words are a helpful reminder to break that habit and to take joy in the work God has given me to do. Thank you. It’s amazing how far back some of my comparison habits go—decades—so it takes a lot of work to break them! But with God, all things are possible.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience, Anita! I am glad that you found the post helpful. Yes, you are right – sometimes it takes a lot of work, but with God, we should press on to victory!
Wonderful read! I do think we need to focus on our own path and remember everyone’s pace is different. It’s hard not to compare ourselves to others and it takes reminding to be grateful for what we have. Thank you for the encouragement.
Thanks a lot for your encouraging comment! You are right: focusing on our own path makes us appreciate what we have and cultivate gratitude.
Awesome.
Thank you, Betty!
I appreciate the imagery of staying in your lane. So often, especially with blogging, I am tempted to compare myself with others. I need to remember to run my race well, and not worry about how others are running. Thanks for the reminders and encouragement.
As a fellow blogger, I can truly relate, Lisa! Yes, we need daily to remind ourselves to stay in our lane, run our race, and support and encourage others.
Thank you for this thoughts. It’s often difficult not to envy others for their position or possessions. Learn and remember who you are and the source of your identity is a very important step IMHO. Take pride in your own work without comparing yourself to someone else, is equally important. And of course: Trust in the Lord.
Thank you so much for your feedback, Thomas! I am happy that you found these takeaways for you! Yes, it is so easy to slip in a modus of comparison and coveting, so we need intentionally to train ourselves in the ways of the Lord.