The grass is always greener—on the other side of the fence!
Many of us have heard and used this little idiom, and many languages other than English have similar expressions. What we don’t realize, however, as this common adage slips from our lips, is that it sums up one of the greatest weaknesses of mankind: We want what we don’t have.
This isn’t a new problem, for wasn’t it the desire for what we don’t have that was at the root of the first sin? The serpent told Eve: “For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Gen 3:5, NKJV). Obviously Eve was somewhat dissatisfied with not knowing good and evil, and she gave in to the temptation.
We see this human tendency also at the root of unfaithfulness. A man or a woman meets another, sees something in that person that they perceive they do not have at home, and they eat of the “forbidden fruit.”
We also see it as the root of theft, and so often it is also the motivation for murder. It is even at the root of dishonesty. I remember one time when I didn’t get a very high mark on an assignment I had turned in. My teacher sent it home for my parents to sign, and since I desired for my parents to believe I was always a good student, I forged my dad’s signature on the page. Naturally, I got in trouble, for my handwriting looked nothing like my dad’s…
If you think your way through each of the 10 commandments, you will see that the “grass is greener” mentality is at the root of each one of the first nine. For example, why would we worship a different God or make graven images to worship if we were totally satisfied with the One we have? Why would we dishonor God by taking His name in vane or by seeking to find our rest in anything except God, if we weren’t disillusioned? We generally don’t honor our parents because we are dissatisfied with something they have done, and I’ve already mentioned how this is at the root of killing, stealing, adultery and dishonesty.
And what about the 10th commandment? The last one? Well this commandment sums it all up very nicely with a direct command to not desire what you don’t have: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” (Exod 20:17, NKJV)
When you look at the history of the Israelites in the wilderness, we see that the “grass is always greener” mentality is also at the root of their problems. How often didn’t they complain and ask to go back to Egypt—the land of their slavery? (see Ex. 17, Num 11 & 14 for just a few examples) .
And what about us? Is the grass always greener on the other side of the fence in our lives? Are we dissatified with what we have? Do we want what we don’t have?
And why would Paul feel the need to tell us: “…I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content…” (Phil 4:11, NKJV)?
Please join us next week for The Grass is Greener, Part 2: The dangers of covetousness, for some personal lessons God has given me on this subject.
In His love,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two, Author — “Aboard God’s Train — A Journey With God Through the Valley of Cancer”, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, with Answers2Prayer Ministries. Follow Lyn on Twitter @lynchaffart.
(To access the entire “The Grass is Always Greener” mini-series, please click here.)