Be Wary of Covetousness

Exodus 20:17 – “You shall not covet… anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Luke 12:15 – “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

Let me be real:
It’s hard to scroll social media and not feel like you’re behind.
You see the new car, the vacation pics, the seemingly perfect marriage, the six-figure side hustle. And without even realizing it, something subtle starts to creep in…

Comparison.
Envy.
Discontentment.

It’s not always loud or obvious. Sometimes it sounds like, “Why not me?” or “If I just had what they have…” That quiet voice can spiral fast—and before long, you’ve stopped being thankful for what’s in your hand because you’re too busy staring at what’s in someone else’s.

That’s the danger of covetousness, wanting what someone else has so badly that it clouds your purpose and poisons your perspective. It’s one of the Ten Commandments for a reason (Exodus 20:17), not because God wants to restrict us, but because He knows how easily our hearts get distracted.

Jesus warned in Luke 12:15, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
That’s a strong “watch out” – because comparison doesn’t just make you feel behind… it blinds you.

It blinds you to the blessings in your own life.
It blinds you to the unique calling God placed on your path.
It blinds you to how far you’ve already come.

One of the most freeing moments in my life was realizing that I’m not called to their race, I’m called to mine.
And my job isn’t to match someone else’s highlight reel – it’s to be faithful with what God has put in front of me today.

Want to protect your heart from envy? Try this:

Every time you catch yourself comparing, stop and say out loud one thing you’re grateful for.
Seriously, train your eyes to see blessings, not gaps. Gratitude is spiritual armor against covetousness.

And when someone else wins? Celebrate them. Don’t just scroll past – speak life. The kingdom isn’t a competition. We rise together.

So be wary of envy. It’s sneaky. It looks harmless. But it will rob you blind – and smile while doing it.
Don’t let it.

Your life, your gifts, your pace – they’re enough when surrendered to God.
And He never called you to look like them.
He called you to look like Christ.

So stay in your lane. Keep your eyes up. And run your race well.