78_You shall not covet
Ex 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
Imagine a young boy walking into a toy store. With wide-eyed wonder, his eyes dart from shelf to shelf, taking in the dazzling array of brightly colored boxes. A shiny red race car catches his eye. His mother gently reminds him, “You have so many toys at home.” He insists on having it. It’s not about the car itself; it’s the longing to have more, the acquisitive instinct.
As adults, our desires look different. We hanker for bigger and better houses, higher salaries, or enviable lifestyles. Yet the essence of the struggle remains the same. Covetousness, the unchecked desire for what isn’t ours, has plagued the human heart since the Garden of Eden. Therefore, God, in His infinite wisdom, commanded, “You shall not covet.”
This commandment goes beyond actions and addresses the desires of the heart. No human government can enforce such a law because it is impossible to monitor the hidden inclinations of the human heart. But this commandment reminds us that nothing escapes His notice. In Jeremiah 6:13, God rebukes Israel, saying, “From the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain.” Their outward religiosity could not conceal the greed lurking in their hearts.
In Ezekiel 33:31, where He exposes the hypocrisy of those who came to listen to His prophet: “They come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but they will not do them, for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their covetousness.” The people’s outward devotion was a pretence; they were loyal to their selfish desires. Covetousness is incompatible with the love of God. A greedy heart has no room for God, as its affections are already pledged elsewhere.
The Lord sharply rebuked the religious leaders of His day. In Matthew 23:25, He spoke, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” Greed and self-indulgence are the twin pillars of covetousness. They promise fulfillment in things and sensations apart from God, leading us to idolatry. Paul reiterates this truth in Colossians 3:5, where he admonishes believers to “put to death… covetousness, which is idolatry.”
The insidious nature of covetousness is its chief danger. It begins with desire, hidden in the heart, but quickly grows into destructive action. James 1:14-15 explains this: “Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully grown, brings forth death.” Covetous thoughts seem harmless at first, but if we harbour them, they shape our thoughts, words, actions, and character. Ultimately, we will prioritize our own will over God’s, moving away from Him.
Scripture provides many illustrations of the consequences of covetousness. Eve coveted the forbidden fruit and all that it offered, leading to humanity’s fall (Genesis 3). Achan’s greed for plunder resulted in the death of his whole family (Joshua 7). King David’s lust for Bathsheba led to adultery, murder, unrest, and killings in his household (2 Samuel 11). Judas Iscariot, driven by greed, betrayed his Master for thirty pieces of silver, sealing his fate.
In today’s world, we are constantly bombarded with messages that fuel covetousness. Advertisements are designed to make us feel dissatisfied with what we have, so that we will upgrade it. Contentment is dismissed out of mind, while greed is masked as ambition and smartness. Yet, Paul’s words in Philippians 4:11-12 speak with timeless relevance: “I have learned, in whatever circumstances I am, to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.”
True contentment is not passive resignation but an active trust in God’s provision. It’s a recognition that every good and perfect gift comes from Him (James 1:17) and that He knows and provides what we need. To guard against covetousness, we must be vigilant about the focus of our attention and affections. Jesus warned in Matthew 6:22-23 that “the eye is the lamp of the body.” What we fix our inward and outward gaze upon determines the direction of our hearts. In a world filled with visual and material temptations, we must train our eyes and minds to dwell on what is pure, lovely, and praiseworthy, all that is of God. (Philippians 4:8).
When we align our desires with His will, we experience freedom from grasping and greed. As Psalm 37:4 tells us: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Living in God’s love, our desires are to focus on His purposes. When we are filled with his Spirit and walking by faith, we are joyfully content when His will is fulfilled through our lives.
Contentment in God’s providence is the antidote to covetousness. Contentment grows when we cultivate faith. Hebrews 13:5 offers this assurance: “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Faith is expressed in gratitude and generosity. Gratitude acknowledges the goodness and sufficiency of God. Generous giving affirms our trust in God, rather than in material possessions. Acts 20:35 quotes the Lord’s words: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
The Israelites in the wilderness forgot this truth. They grumbled about the daily miracle of manna, and lusted for the spices and flesh of Egypt. Their unthankful attitude blinded them to the daily miracle of God’s presence in their midst, despite their repeated failures and sins. Let us learn from their mistake and trust the sufficiency of God’s presence and provision.
Let us examine our hearts and be satisfied with God’s presence and goodness. Let us seek His kingdom above all else, knowing that all we need will be given (Matthew 6:33). Let us worship Him, not only in outward show, but with heartfelt contentment and joy, finding fulfillment in his good and perfect will. God bless.