DO NOT COVET! FOCUS ON GOD ONLY

The Ten Commandments remind us that true worship is our response to who God is and what He has done. Though many see God's commands as restrictive, they are actually given for our good. After God rescued Israel from 400 years of slavery, Moses came down from Mount Sinai and found the people worshiping a golden calf. Their failure reminds us how easily our hearts turn from God. Without His commands, we become slaves to our own desires rather than living in the freedom He intends for us.

Modern sociology calls this FOMO — the fear of missing out. One moment, you feel fulfilled and thankful. Then suddenly, after seeing what others have, you feel inadequate. FOMO clouds our mind. It makes something good feel lacking. In relationships, FOMO becomes the “grass is greener” syndrome - when we think others have better marriages than us. Social media makes us compare our daily lives with the curated “perfect” lives of others, leading to dissatisfaction with our own reality. FOMO also appears in business, where corporate giants can fail because greed has blurred their vision.

Focus on God Only

So how do we focus on God only?

In 1 Timothy 6, Paul gives us three antidotes to temptation:

1. Flee from Danger

“But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. “ — 1 Timothy 6:11

One of the biggest influences shaping our minds today is the internet. Social media constantly floods us with things to desire. Even when we are not looking for it, it comes looking for us with a ping.

But we do not just flee from something. We must run toward something better.

We pursue righteousness and godliness by studying and meditating on God’s Word, allowing His truth to guide how we live. As we fill our minds with God’s Word, we weaken the pull of endless screen time.

We can also join a Dgroup, which is more than Bible study. It is accountability and life-on-life application.

We also need an outflow of God’s love by serving in church. With a church this size, there are many ministries to serve in, like NxtGen, the church’s children ministry.

2. Practice Contentment

“But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.”  — 1 Timothy 6:6–7

Contentment is important because it shows our gratitude to God and our trust in Him over our circumstances.

History tells us that one of Alexander the Great’s final wishes was for his coffin to be carried by the best doctors, his wealth scattered along the road, and his hands left dangling outside the coffin. Why? To show that even the best doctors cannot stop death, earthly riches are left behind, and every person enters and leaves this world empty-handed. This agrees with Paul’s reminder: we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it.

Today, many people are facing economic challenges because of war, high gas prices, and corruption. But facts would give us a different perspective about who is poor or who is rich. If we have food, clothing, and shelter, we must recognize God’s blessings and give thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

"It is not the man who has too little that is poor, but the man who craves more.” -Seneca. In other words, a poor man is not just someone who has little. A poor man is someone who can never say, “God, You have given me enough.” Covetousness makes us focus on what we do not have, instead of thanking God for what we already have.

3. Practice Generosity

“Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.” - 1 Timothy 6:18-19

Generosity helps us fight covetousness because it trains our hearts to trust God and experience His goodness. Generosity is not only about money. It also includes our talents and time. And sometimes, time is the harder thing to give because it is limited.

Fear of Missing God

FOMO often comes from deeper questions: Am I loved? Am I secure? Am I significant? Will my life matter?

At the heart of it, we are all looking for security and significance. Security comes when we know someone trustworthy holds us. Significance comes when we know we are truly loved.

Jesus, though He had infinite wealth, gave up the treasures of heaven for us. He became poor, emptied Himself, and died on the cross so our sins could be forgiven and we could belong to God’s family. So why seek security and significance elsewhere, when Jesus freely offers both? All we need is to give our hearts to Him.

Instead of fearing that we are missing out, we should fear missing God. FOMO makes us chase what others have. But the fear of missing God brings us back to what our hearts truly need.