Luke 12:13-21

1 Timothy 6:6-11, 17-19

Philippians 4:11-13

Matthew 6:26-30

Ephesians 6:7-8

2 Corinthians 8:1-5

Acts 4:32-37; 5:1-11

How to Avoid the Destruction of Coveting and Comparison:

1- Comparison is trying to be someone you're not to gain what was never meant for you. If your eyes are on any other person besides Jesus, there will be destruction in your future. When you crave titles, accolades, recognition, and riches over righteousness, obedience, and devotion to God you set yourself up to build your house on a sandy foundation. You were made unique in the image of God, don’t get caught up in the pursuit of the fallen image of man. He must increase, we must decrease.

2- The opposite of coveting is contentment. Oftentimes our lack of contentment is rooted in our coveting of what everyone else has that we think means we are less than. If you are struggling to find peace in your life I challenge you to shrink your exposure to what you don’t have in order to maximize your ability to see what you do have. It's hard to focus on what is in God’s hands when we crave what is produced by man’s. It’s hard to be happy with the BLESSOR if the blessing is never enough.

3- God cannot bless what you willingly withhold. Wishing for what others have leads to life that feels as though we are locked out of promises and fulfillment with God, unless HE produces/gives a lifestyle that has more than everyone else, and better than everyone else. If you have a scorecard of material blessing attached to your salvation, you will have a coffin attached to your christianity. There is only one who gives good and perfect gifts, and our lives must be postured on his kingdom above to see them.

1 Samuel L 13:1-14

How To Win the War of Trusting God's Timing and Control.

1- The test of timing takes place before the gift of God given ability and blessing. If the timing is off the ability will be off, and the blessing will be off... a man after His own heart, puts God's heart and commands above the needs of my own heart and plans and learns to trust His timing above mine... and in this action and disposition; the kingdom you seek to build He will make sure endures.

2- The tired and trembling is healed by walking the straight path. My impatience and control are rooted in a fear of improper timing and inadequate ability. There is freedom when we realize it's His timing, not ours, and it is His ability, not ours. We must make the choice to lift tired hands and strengthen weak knees, and trust that on the straight path of holiness there is healing for our brokenness.

3- God not showing up when you wanted is not Him not following through, it's Him confronting the idols of control and impatience. Impatience and control are rooted in us wanting specific outcomes, and not having faith in God and His plan. It is our responsibility to build an altar of a life that honors the commands of God, not one that rewrites them to our feelings and needs when they aren't met how we want, in the timeframes we want. We don't serve a genie in a bottle, we serve a king on a cross.