Lately I have been faithfully praying for this person at church whose passion for the Lord strikingly emanates. I’ve learned a lot from his walk. He faithfully witnesses in and out of season, he goes out of his way to serve strangers, he keeps God’s Word in his heart—memorizes them with such devotion, he prays with heartfelt praise and longing for His will, and the list goes on. He will be leaving soon for a mission trip. The Lord has placed in his heart to be in a place where he can preach the word to a growing muslim population. He is very young, yet he has chosen to obey God’s calling though it would mean being away from family and friends, adjusting to a different environment, and facing a whole new set of challenges. He will be going with another friend who I also admire for her passion for the Lord. It’s sad that we will be “losing” two people in church with such zeal for the Lord that is commendable; but we are happy that they will be reaching out to others to give Him glory and honor.
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I was reading this article from John Piper’s Desiring God website. I want to keep it here so I can just look back and be reminded of its lesson. It teaches to look at others to deal with the challenge of covetousness.
Here is amazingly practical help for us: Pick out some people whose lives show that they treasure Christ above other things. Then “keep your eyes on them.” Watch them. That, Paul says, is a good way to conquer covetousness.
I would only add that it is good to have some dead saints to “keep your eyes on” as well. That’s what biographies are for.
So we as pastors would exhort you all to flee covetousness. Topple all your idols. “Count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.” Be in the word every day. But also find those who live this way and “keep your eyes on them.” What you will see, if you look carefully, is the power and the beauty of Christ. This sight will satisfy your soul. And your satisfied soul will keep you from stealing and lying. And your life will make God look supremely valuable.
Read the rest of this article entitled, Fighting Covetousness by Looking at Others at desiringgod.org.
