The lesson of I SEE, I WANT, I HAVE…

Sometimes I wonder why some very rich people seem more unhappy than very poor people. Have you ever asked yourself that question?

It's also well known that people who suddenly win a large sum of money are more likely to become poorer than before they won, in a very short time! Imagine someone deposits an astronomical sum ($40,000,000) into your account. How will you live with that money now? 

You see, you want, you have… Your entire life from now on will be punctuated by a new way of consuming. Oh, that beautiful car! I want it so badly (there are already two in the garage of your third $4 million property) … I have…

But someone who has almost nothing dreams of little things during this time; I would like a roof over my head, a little food, clothes… And then, if someone gives him a chance, he is so happy that he can continue to rejoice in what he has for a long time! In reality, the act of seeing, wanting, and having gone through two phases is what we call “greed” (there are sober people among the rich and greedy people among the poor as well). When a greedy person sees something, they are already in the phase of wanting, the second phase being having. But during this time, something is missing, something that would allow them to be satisfied…

Imagine yourself sitting before THE perfect steak (or the perfect hummus for vegetarians) that you've been dreaming about for a month… It's perfect, flavorful, bursting with taste… You go home and you're completely satisfied. Now, someone who eats this perfect steak (or hummus) at every meal overconsumes it and certainly no longer finds the joy of anticipation; it has become a dish without interest. 

Of course, a crucial step is missing, one that the poor experience and that gives them their full satisfaction: the dream or the joy of waiting. The poor see, hope (or dream), and wait, and sometimes receive. The Bible speaks extensively about waiting for those who ask, and it also says that this waiting receives a positive response for the "righteous" (Luke 12:36; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; Hebrews 9:28; 2 Peter 3:13; Hosea 12:6; Psalm 27:14; there are many other verses on this subject). 

When you go on a trip, haven't you ever noticed that it's the whole idea (the dream) you have of it that's wonderful? "Ah, we'll do this when we leave, or we'll take this, or we'll see that or that person, it's been so long!" What a dream! And then there's the REAL trip, which isn't always as beautiful as the idea you had in mind (even if you post beautiful photos on social media).

Ecclesiastes 5:10 says this: "Whoever loves money will not be satisfied with money, and whoever loves riches will not enjoy their fullness. This too is meaningless. It's one thing to try to live and provide for your family, but if you 'seek' riches, it's not for others, it's for yourself, and that's greed." Some have so much, yet they hold so much back, then say, "God bless me." 

In reality, the Word of God He says this: “All day long he craves, but the righteous gives freely” (Proverbs 21:26). 

This is the difference between the unjust and the righteous (rich or poor). The unjust person “constantly craves” for themselves, while the righteous person does not “seek” to satisfy their desires; on the contrary, they give to others.

The Lord warns us against this desire, this covetousness, because it leads to sin and death: “Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death” (James 1:14-15). The question is not whether you are rich or not; the question is whether you covet or not, because one can covet in many ways and seek to satisfy one's desires in many ways. Love, status, power, sexuality, gluttony, etc.

Some examples of covetousness: possess. I see, I want, I possess.

• “And the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise.” (Genesis 3:6), you know the rest…

• He saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. He learned that she was the wife of Uri the Hittite; nevertheless, he sent messengers and took her (2 Samuel 11:2-4).

• Achan answered Joshua, and said: […] This is what I did: I saw among the plunder a beautiful robe from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels; I coveted them, and I took them (Joshua 7:20-22).

The Lord tells us that if we follow His will and fix our gaze on Him, we will abide in Him forever. “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:16). 

We must also “clothe ourselves” with Him, so as not to “satisfy” our flesh with its desires (Romans 13:14; Colossians 3:5; 2 Timothy 2:22). If our gaze is on Jesus, it is Him we want, Him we desire, and not the world, and ultimately, it is Him we will have! And we know that God provides, not as we desire, but as He desires; “no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). 

Let us pray: Jesus, I ask Your forgiveness if my eyes have turned away from You! Turn my gaze back to You and to You alone! I desire you more than anything; you are the one who brings joy to my life. Even in my lack, you fill me. I know that, as my gaze is fixed on you, you have promised to take care of me. I surrender everything into your hands, and from now on, I fix my eyes, my desire, and my hope on you!