When you think of the ten commandments, what comes to mind? Not having another god but the Lord? Don’t lie, steal or kill?
How often do you think of the tenth commandment: Thou shalt not covet? Are you confused at all as to what it means?
I think the simplest definition is this: to intensely desire something that belongs to another person.
While this can be used in a positive way, such as telling someone you “covet their prayers,” it is most often a negative thing. And this is why we have the word used in context in Exodus 20:17:
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
The intense desire for something your neighbor owns is not only an unhealthy desire, it leads to further sin.
While we all have needs and wants, coveting goes much farther. It replaces gratitude with disappointment and resentment.
It in essence says to God, “I’m not satisfied with what you’ve allowed me to have.”
It can lead to all manner of wicked thoughts and actions, including discontentment and even entitlement, doing damage to our spiritual lives. Covetousness can go further, leading you to resent your neighbor for having what you wish you did.
Jesus said,
“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” –Luke 12:15
Most of the ten commandments address our outward actions, but this one deals with the thoughts of our heart. It’s these thoughts that can lead us to break the other commandments, such as not to steal or commit adultery.
Jesus addressed this in the Sermon on the Mount, when he cut to the root cause of sin: the heart.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” – Matthew 5:27-28
Unhealthy desire, not desire itself, is the issue.
Again, desiring things isn’t unhealthy in itself. We were made to desire, because we are not self-sufficient, no matter what we like to think.
We need food, water and sleep to survive. We need doctors to treat our medical ailments. And we all need community.
But our biggest need is for God. We are at every moment reliant upon Him, which when we remember this, makes our pride seem utterly ridiculous.
God made us to desire Him. He knows we have material needs, and loves us enough to meet those needs.
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. – Matthew 6:31-33
When we are content with what we have, and do not let our hearts be envious of another, we help set ourselves up for success in living a godly life. When we shift our focus to what someone else has, intensely desiring it, we set ourselves up for failure.
Friend, let us choose wisely. The antidote to covetousness is contentment. And it does not disappoint.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. – 1 Timothy 6:6-7
Coveting, though, is no-win game. Because even if you got what you wanted, you would quickly find it did not satisfy. And it comes with a hefty price tag that you’ll find you never wanted to pay.
