You Can't Always Get What You Want
February 29, 2012
Whenever my kids want something they do need or doesn’t belong to them, we threaten to sing (the other six of us, as a choir) The Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”. There is a great deal of spiritual truth in that simple chorus. It also makes a great title for a blog entry that really isn’t about that song.
Do Not Covet
That’s the simple way to say it. Let’s be honest, no one says “thou shalt not” and if they do we look at them like they have three heads or are just entirely too_________ for their own good. Somewhere in that sentence there’s another whole blog about letting go of 1611 language so people have a chance to understand what Jesus and His message are all about, but that’s not really what I sat down to write about. I digress. Often. But that’s another story. Nevermind. Anyway…
So, if you know what “covet” means, then those three words represent a simple way to express the 10th Commandment. I’m guessing a good many of us don’t know, though. Yesterday, someone had enough courage to admit as much and ask me directly. I had an explanation, but this morning I have one I think is more worth sharing.
For those accustomed to some background music, choose one of these links and dig in.
Yesterday afternoon, I did something I hadn’t done in a long time. I went to the library and checked out some music. Just for fun. Not for work. Not possible new praise music. Just some stuff to listen, some of which I had never heard, none of which I own. So, I got a George Harrison collection, Juan Luis Guerra (Dominicano y musico favorito de mi hermanito), a really kind of weak Kenny Loggins album from 2003 (sorry, Kenny), the latest from Barry Manilow (which I’m sort of scared to listen to), Lifehouse and a 4 CD collection of Nuggets (largely obscure American rock tunes from 1965-1968).
OK, Kevin, you ask, “What in the world does this have to do with coveting?” Glad you asked. As soon as I got these CDs into my computer and/or car stereo, I wanted to possess them. It’s a really simple thing to do. Just hit “import CD” in iTunes and they are yours, right? Except they are not. Therein lays the rub. (This is not a blog about music pirating. Later.)
There’s some stuff on these CDs that I want. I can have it. It’d be simple. No one would know. Wouldn’t hurt anyone either, right? But, wait. It’s not mine. I know this. Somewhere inside of me, though, there wells up this desire to have these things that are not mine and honestly, it’s a strong desire. Maybe music is not your hang up. Maybe it’s your friends new car or house or TV or electronic gadgetry. Maybe it’s someone’s status, job, or money. Maybe it’s somebody’s talent or personal giftedness. Maybe you watched the Oscars the other night and looked at all the beautiful wrapping on those people and desire wells up in you to have it and you’re willing to sell out what you know is right in order to take hold of it. This is what it means to covet.
George Harrison had a “best friend” who wanted his wife; even wrote a hit song about it (see Eric Clapton- Layla). She wasn’t Clapton’s to take but he did it anyway. Coveting leads us to losing our sense of principle so to take what we have no right to and don’t actually need. We all do it. It’s destructive and leads us to bad things: thus (does anyone say “thus” anymore?), the Commandment. God is nothing if not practical.
You are free now to use Eric Clapton (or me) as the standard against which you can rationalize your own covetous leanings, saying that you would never do anything so despicable as try to steal a spouse (even though you still think the opening riff from Layla is one of the best ever) or that I’m just weird for listening to Barry Manilow in the first place and get what I deserve if the new album isn’t so great.
Just wanted to pop in here for a few minutes to see if maybe writing would help me work out this urge. It has. I’m good for now. Thanks. How about you?
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