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Coveting. Just what is coveting? The dictionary mentions several words with similar meanings such as to yearn for, crave, be consumed with desire for, pant, dream of, fancy, thirst/hunger/ache/burn/wish or long for. Coveting is therefore a very strong desire involving lust to obtain something that does not belong to us. We do not hear this word mentioned much any more as it may be deemed rather old fashioned. Even my iPad deleted it and placed another word (covering) in its place. So I went back and corrected this mistake. Make no mistake about it...you are being lied to. Rather, the world and times we live in now, want us to erroneously believe that “You deserve it now” therefore “go for it”! We are actively encouraged to get whatever we want or desire, usually items we do not need as such...we may have a car but we are urged to upgrade and purchase a more expensive or newer model...this is often a want rather than a need. The world has an agenda — to sell stuff, the more the better as far as they are concerned, so that businesses do well and prosperity abounds — just use your “plastic fantastic!” they cry out on TV, on the radio, and in junk mail. They will even give you up to 36-48 months to pay off your debt without any interest...no payments for years which tempts many. The only problem is that you will incur debt, debt is no good, debt is not your friend. It will eventually catch up with you. Seriously though, dreaming of getting more stuff can be such a big trap implying we are not satisfied with our lot in life.
Do we dream of having more stuff? Nothing wrong in working and obtaining wealth if this is done in balance and does not become an obsession. Once upon a time when I did not know any better, wherever my path crossed sellers of lottery tickets, I would buy them...usually one, sometimes more. I did win things, even a trip complete with accommodation in a big, fancy casino type of hotel. Other lottery tickets that were regular money suckers were sold to help groups of people with disabilities or medical problems. I justified in my heart that I was doing something good by buying their tickets, but the real heart of the matter was that I wanted to win the huge mansion with one or two luxury vehicles in the garage, and a huge cash sum to buy whatever my heart desired. In retrospect this is quite obscene to me as I definitely had my mind set on coveting all of these trappings. Lotteries involve greed and should be avoided as per scriptures in Proverbs 28:20 and 20:21. If my heart was where it should have been a donation would be more appropriate, receiving nothing physical in return except the knowledge that people would receive help. That should have been enough just there! Oh our wicked hearts (Jeremiah 17:9) as we push to one side our true intentions and motives.
The thing is, we can donate money to causes such as LifeNets which now has a Facebook page. This is a wonderful charity that actively helps many people worldwide out of debilitating poverty. Basic needs such as water to drink from wells dug, education and hands-on practical help in planting and tending crops, animals for milking, working, and eating. They have provided sewing machines for women to make clothes to sell, uniforms for children to wear to school, and so many other worthwhile day to day needs. We live in such a blessed country where the majority of us have everything we could ever want or need and to give back a little is good, especially to help those less fortunate. Unlike charities in the world which repeatedly stung me until I learned that not all of the funds were given or allocated to where they should be. People working for most charities are paid obscene salaries, objects are taken from parcels sent to children in foreign countries like Africa, and corruption abounds much to my shock and horror. That is why LifeNets is such a brilliant cause, because all the funds go to the recipients — no dipping into the cash reserves at all by anyone. Donating willingly and freely is the antidote to coveting. Think of giving to those less fortunate rather than getting anything for yourself. You will still benefit in other ways which are long lasting and a panacea to many illnesses such as depression, anxiety, stress, and low self esteem.
Taking a moment to think about the worst example I can think of from the Bible about coveting another’s possession, for me, would be the account of Naboth’s Vineyard in 1 Kings 21 which was coveted by King Ahab of Samaria. Urged on by his power hungry wife Jezebel, Naboth was killed (stoned to death after false accusations were made about his character) so that Ahab could then take possession of the vineyard to grow vegetables. The wickedness displayed by Ahab and Jezebel was shocking and extremely evil.
Thou Shalt Not Covet Is A Law Of Tremendous Blessing
God speaks about coveting in His Word. You may remember that coveting is part of the 10 commandments. It is the final commandment placed at number ten. What does the Bible say about coveting? In Exodus 20:17 we read “You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbour’s”. God is serious about this matter and He seriously means what He says. Again, we can read the replication of God’s instruction regarding coveting in Deuteronomy 5:21 so that there can be no mistake.
Why does God tell us not to covet? Coveting is something that threatens to overtake our contentment in life. If we are constantly yearning for things we see others have, then we are not content. It is a true blessing to be content with whatever we have as Paul so eloquently points out in 1 Timothy 6:6-11. To realise we already have many blessings such as the ability to hear, speak, think, smell, walk, touch, and carry out daily activities, whether working or in relaxation, is so amazing. Many take these abilities for granted focusing on getting more and more physical things which are only temporary, wear out, break, or otherwise become no longer of use. Once you have that pair of shoes, fancy dress, or gold necklace, you will then move onto the next item that falls under your radar. You will simply never be content, always searching, coveting, grasping for more to fill that empty hole in your heart. That empty part needs to be filled with the one thing that is missing. Consider 1 John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever”.
What do you covet? Lots of fancy clothing, perhaps just one gorgeous evening gown to wear to a special event, name brand shoes, expensive jewellery, or something more modestly priced? The thing is the item need not be worth much at all in order to commit the sin of coveting. For instance, if we were to dream about or think upon owning something our neighbour has but cannot purchase this as it may be out of our reach financially, we usually work harder to obtain that item. But have you thought about instances where an item is difficult to source as hand-made, or no longer available in the shops, and you have no way of possessing the item except to steal it, then thoughts involving coveting have also included the sin of stealing which could lead to a very unhealthy obsession. The item is a thing...the world will not stop if you do not have it in your possession. If you are coveting a person then you must cease as they are not yours. Get out of these disturbed ways of thinking immediately as you are engaging in lustful thoughts if this be a man or woman you are attracted to. If it is for a child as you may be childless or unable to have children (barren), then there is a solution to your problem. In fact there is only one answer to all of these problems and focus of our desires.
The solution is available to everyone who actively listens and goes to God in prayer. God is the very part or essence that is missing in your life to fill that empty place in your heart that is searching and yearning for physical things from this world. That empty place was already in existence when you were born ready for the Holy Spirit to be given to you. God is waiting for you to want to sincerely change so that He can give you this. Whether you realise it or not, you are missing the vital link, the spiritual component which will make you whole. You will never be filled with contentment until you tell God you have had enough of doing things your way and are ready to listen to Him. Ask God what He wants to tell you. The apostle Paul spoke about how he was content in whatever cognitive state or physical circumstance he was in. We can refer to this in the book of Philippians 4:11-13 “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. That is the key to contentment...filling our hearts and minds on Christ.
Also, we can go to the example in Proverbs 30:1-33 of King Agur who lamented his foolish ways of seeking after physical, worldly things. As you read through this Proverb you can see in 30:7-9 what Agur asks from God...just enough to fill his daily needs so he will continue to remain thankful and grateful to God for providing these. That is one reason why this Proverb has the title “The Wisdom Of Agur”...he knew riches could take him away from God and make him self-sufficient. Another King by the name of Solomon came to realise the hard way that having everything he could ever want or need in this life did not bring lasting joy or happiness. Ecclesiastes 2:10 states “Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure”. Following on from this scripture we can read Ecclesiastes 5:10 “He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity”. The message is plain and simple — we will never be sustainably satisfied with anything physical in this lifetime without God first and foremost in our lives. King David’s son Solomon was the wisest person living at the time and was inspired by God to write the book of Ecclesiastes. It would be very helpful to read Ecclesiastes in its entirety as it is not very long and is packed full of valuable wisdom about the meaning of life to bring broader context.
So now you know why coveting is sinful, why God tells us we should not do this, why He wants us to be free from sin and instead be truly content in whatever state or circumstance we are in. God loves us so very much He wants us to be blessed beyond our best thoughts and desires because His desires for us are oh so much better and higher than our own limited feeble minds can grasp. Isaiah 55:8-9 exclaims “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts”. We really do not need or want to covet in any way, shape, or form, if we turn to God to establish and keep a close bond through prayer and obedience (Matthew 6:33). Enjoy the blessings!