No Coveting

Deuteronomy 5:21

I don't play the lottery. Most of the time I do not even give it a thought. However, when I was driving up and down I-95 going to work in Kingsland, I would see the billboard advertising the Mega Millions. I used to pass that sign and think, "Oh the things I could do if I had that." Especially when it was $1 Billion. I coveted what wasn't mine. Every time I thought about the "what if" of winning, I was not content with what God had blessed me with.

---

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife; and you shall not desire your neighbor’s house, his field, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.

Deuteronomy 5:21

---

The Greek word translated "covet" means to desire or to take pleasure in. With each of the items listed, the individual must spend time desiring them and taking pleasure in them in his/her mind. There must be a thought process of "my life would be better if I had...". We begin to romanticize life if we had that thing we feel is missing. This leads to a longing or desiring for what belongs to someone else.

In the book of II Samuel, one of David's sons coveted his half-sister. He longed for her and thought he loved her. After following the bad advice of a friend, David's son manipulated a situation to get himself alone with his sister. Then, he forced himself on her. Once he had what he thought he wanted, he realized he really did not want her. This added further insult to the situation. The Bible says he hated her.

In a different passage, King Ahab coveted the vineyard of Naboth. When Naboth refused to sell it to him, King Ahab went to his room and pouted. His wife Jezebel saw that her husband was upset and inquired as to why. When he told her, she reminded him that he was king and could do what he wanted. Then she told him that she would get it for him. She had Naboth murdered and took the field.

As seen in both of these stories, coveting often leads to more aggressive sins like murder, rape, adultery, and stealing. Because the person is not content with what they have, they desire what they do not have. The Apostle Paul wrote, "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content" (Philippians 4:11).

Finally, our coveting demonstrates a lack of love and trust for God. When we covet, we are saying that God is not enough. We are saying that His provision is not enough. Rather than seek His provision through prayer, we dream about how good life would be outside of God's will. If left unchecked, these thoughts will lead to us pursuing a life outside the will of God. The grass appearing greener is only a façade Satan is using to draw our hearts away from God.

Father, help us to find contentment in You. Create in us a heart that desires more of You and every good gift that You give. Help us to recognize the traps of Satan as he desires to lure our hearts away from You.