opinioncovet

"Thou Shalt Not Covet...Anybody Remember THAT one?

One of the most overlooked sins today is covetousness. I think anyone would be amazed if they took the time to consider exactly how widespread this problem is. What may be more surprising, is that it is most pronounced in the left wing "help the less fortunate" camp. The reason: they are eager to help others as long as it costs them nothing. They want others (who can afford it) to sacrifice while they continue to feather their own nest.

Socialism and Communism are supposed to be all about making economics equal so that we all have exactly the same amount of wealth and live in harmony...blah, blah, blah. But, for all of their condemnation of the corrupt, capitalist system (some of which is valid) they seem to miss the root of their own argument, which is covetousness. It all boils down to: I'm not satisfied with what I have, I envy what the rich guy down the street has, and he should have to give

me part of his fortune, which he earned and I didn't, simply to satisfy my wants.

       Taking care of the less fortunate, lest anyone forget, is an exalted virtue of the Christian religion. However, -key point- the act of charity is wasted if it is done by force rather than out of a spirit of compassion and goodness. God gave everyone, even the angels, free will for this very reason. He does not want us to do the right thing because we have to, but because we appreciate Him, love Him and we want to. Otherwise we would all be mindless robots. Socialism sucks all virtue out of the charitable act. Where is the virtue in being forced to do the right thing?

       Now, this does not mean that people should be left totally "hands-off" when it comes to caring for others. One of the major roles of organized religion around the world is to encourage and educate people so that they will want to do the right thing. People should be endlessly encouraged to help each other, to care for the less fortunate and make life as just as it can be; but when others are forced to give what is rightfully theirs to someone else, only bad feelings and hostility will result, not the pious satisfaction that comes from doing the right thing freely and anonymously.

       Christians must work hard to combat the covetous spirit. It is the demon that has been behind so much of the suffering in the last two centuries. Particularly for Christian monarchists this should be very obvious. Look to the example of Imperial Russia, populated largely by a very hard working, loyal and God-fearing Orthodox Christian peasants. They were often mistreated by their feudal lords, and at times would rise up to burn the manor house, but never did they display any disloyalty to the Tsar himself, their "Little Father" until the atheistic doctrines of Marxism came to infect them. It was then that many people were perverted from a pious outrage against injustice and mistreatment to a covetous desire to take all for themselves and overthrow their traditional leaders, temporal and spiritual.

       Consider how much blind hatred is still displayed against monarchs in Europe who have given up all of their rights to government power and yet are still maligned and harassed for no other reason than that they occupy a grand position. The spirit in the heart of the so-called reformers and republicans is one of hateful envy. The monarch does them no harm, but since they are wealthier, more revered and hold a place of greater dignity their position is coveted by others. If they cannot usurp their position, their jealousy runs so deep they would tear down all that is ancient and sacred so that no one at all may have what they cannot. Is this enlightened?

       A crucial but often overlooked aspect of Christianity is humility. Christians are told to be thankful for what they have and not to covet what does not belong to them. The true Christian is to focus on their place in the Kingdom of Heaven, not the material things of the earth. Not everyone will be equal in Heaven, those who are the most holy will be the most rewarded, but the beauty is that, everyone who is in Heaven, will be so self-less, they will not care, but admire and be happy for those who have done such deeds as to warrant it. The true Christian attitude.