It All Begins with Coveting

Exodus 20:17

Jim Davis

A man became envious of his friends because they had larger and more luxurious homes. So he listed his house with a real estate firm, planning to sell it and to purchase a more impressive home. Shortly afterward, as he was reading the classified section of the newspaper, he saw an ad for a house that seemed just right. He promptly called the realtor and said, "A house described in today's paper is exactly what I'm looking for. I would like to go through it as soon as possible!" The agent asked him several questions about it and then replied, "But sir, that's YOUR house you're describing. It's the one we're trying to sell for you."

Exodus 20:17
"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (NIV)

I believe the tenth commandment is a summation of the nine preceding commandments. This commandment is not focused on our actions; it is focused on our thoughts, our desires and our feelings. It is the tenth commandment that seeks to internalize the law for each of us as it tells us not to covet anything that belongs to our neighbor.

Covetousness is driven by greed. Greed feeds on itself and leads to even greater sin. It is a form of greed, which Paul calls idolatry. Paul says, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5 NIV) We may not bow down to stone statues, but anything we elevate to a higher place than God in our lives indeed becomes an idol.

When David succumbed to the evil desires of his covetous heart for Uriah's wife, he broke each of the Ten Commandments. He broke the precepts of the first four commandments that had to do with his relationship with God. He pushed God aside as the desires of his covetous heart took control. God no longer had first place. The images of his covetous heart became his God. His adultery profaned God's name before all Israel. He profaned God's Sabbath as he appeared before God seeking to hide his sin from the congregation.

David's error against God reminds us of Ezekiel's cry against Israel. Ezekiel writes,
"As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.' My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice." (Ezekiel 33:30-32 NIV)

However, David's sin did not stop there. As a result of this dishonorable attitude before God, David became a dishonorable parent who bore the dishonor of his children because of covetous practices. He committed adultery with Bathsheba. He killed Uriah by having him placed in the heat of battle. He stole another man's wife. He used deceit and false testimony to bring Uriah home to cover his wrongdoing. His covetous desires for what did not belong to him led him to break all of the commandments.

Micah 2:1-2
Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning's light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellowman of his inheritance. (NIV)

Francis Shaeffer commented that we always break the commandment not to covet before we break any of the other nine. We can escape only by loving God first and finding contentment in that love. ("How to avoid the envy trap" by Brian Stiller. Decision, Dec 1990. Pages 12-13.)

It All Begins With Covetousness.

Years ago a man named James worked as a coachman for a fine Christian gentleman. His employer tried to tell him that he needed the Savior, but he believed he was living up to God's commandments and that nothing more was required of him. "Jim," said his boss one day, "if you can keep the law for even half an hour, I'll give you that brown horse you like." The self- righteous man was delighted and accepted the offer. "All right," said his employer, "get away by yourself for a while, then come back and let me know how you did." A short time later, James returned. "Sir," he said, "while I was gone, I was thinking, maybe you'd let me have that old saddle too. The horse isn't much use without it." "Sorry, Jim, now I can't give you the horse. Remember, the law says, 'Thou shalt not covet." You haven't been able to keep it after all." James was disappointed, for he learned that God's demands are far more exacting than he had thought.

Coveting is the single ingredient that sets us at odds with our world, God and ourselves. James writes,"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?"(James 4:1-5 NIV)

"Covetousness is the worship of self, for it pledges all of ones energies to self-gratification." (Rubel Shelly, Written in Stone, Ethics for the Heart, Howard Publishing. West Monroe, La. Page190.) This is why I believe the last commandment is the very capstone of all ten. Moses writes, "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." (Exodus 20:17 NIV) When covetousness sets up an idol in our hearts, it will resort to whatever means necessary to serve that idol.

Romans 7:8
But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. (NIV)

"To covet...is the conviction that if one has a certain thing life will be full, that things are the source of life." ("How to win eternal life" by Ross W. Marrs. Clergy Journal, Mar 1989. Pages 36-39.) A saintly man, who had few possessions but enjoyed the simple things of life, was conversing one day with a millionaire. Consumed with the passion for making money, the financier was always gathering wealth but had no time to help others or attend to the important matter of his soul. The happy Christian said to his friend, "You know, Bob, I'm richer than you are. I have as much money as I want, but you don't!" His wise observation was a true commentary on the bitter fruit of setting one's affection on this world's goods and always wanting more!

One reason we want more is because we are comparing ourselves with others. Covetousness quickly turns to envy which is admiration gone sour. It is feeling inadequate, depressed and angry over the comparison of your lot with others. Left unchecked it will become resentment, which can turn into hatred. That's just a quick slide into the danger zone of desiring harm to the person.

Psalms 10:1-5
Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies. (NIV)

To the psalmist, it seemed as though the greedy prospered in his wickedness, but our greed will consume us in the end. According to zookeepers, two reptiles will sometimes grab different ends of the same piece of food. Sooner or later their struggle for that last bite brings them nose-to-nose. But then comes the surprise. The snake with the widest bite will keep right on going and actually swallow the other. We must not consume or be consumed by the man-eating impulses of and envious heart.

How To Overcome Coveting

We always lose out when we begin comparing ourselves with others. Some ways to attack an envious attitude:

"Get your focus off yourself. Instead of comparing, concentrate on how you can meet their needs.

"Realize that desiring what your neighbor has demonstrates ungratefulness to God for what He has given you.

"Remember that material things are merely temporal. Fix your eyes on the eternal values.

"Like the writer of Proverbs who asked for neither poverty nor riches, pray for God to give you just what you need. Be thankful for what He gives and share some with others. Trust that the portion He chooses for you will always be enough." ("Five ways to eliminate envy" by Annie Chapman. Today's Christian Woman, Sep/Oct 1991. Page 69.)

1 Timothy 6:6-11
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. (NIV)

"Recognize covetousness for what it is--sin. Then confess it and forsake it.

"You must make the most of who you are. You will be able to stop coveting when you realize that no one has everything. Each of us must concentrate on what God is calling us to be and stop making comparisons--concentrate on your own goals. Share what you have. Become fully involved with life. If what you want is worth having, work to get it." ("Admiration gone sour" by Eileen Silva Kindig. Today's Christian Woman, Sep/Oct 1988. Pages 44-46.)

Proverbs 21:25-26
The sluggard's craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work. All day long he craves for more, but the righteous give without sparing. (NIV)

Covetousness is an enthusiastic desire. There is nothing with enthusiastic desire as long as it is not misdirected.

1 Corinthians 12:27-31
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way. (NIV)

When we eagerly desire God's will for our lives we will find the most excellent way. It is little wonder the psalmist cries out to God saying, "Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way. Establish Your word to Your servant, who is devoted to fearing You." (Psalms 119:36-38 NKJ)

To make the most of who we are we must concentrate on giving rather than getting.

Luke 6:37-38
"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (NIV)

2 Corinthians 9:6-9
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." (NIV)

As our country moves into a decade where all of our desires for material things are not likely to be met, greed will probably be replaced by envy. Like Ahab in the Old Testament, we may find our inner lives so affected by envy that we fail to meet our responsibilities.

The baby boom generation was reared on high expectations. Even Christians are often ensnared by this generation's philosophy and begin to feel that we have the right to financial prosperity. The issue is not money, but rather our expectations and the way they influence our thinking. The Scriptural antidote to envy is the Tenth Commandment: "You shall not covet . . ." The Bible doesn't say that it's wrong to have as much money as someone else or even to want the same things your neighbor has. The sin is when the desire to possess certain things warps your relationship with your neighbor, destroys your self-control, and keeps you from fulfilling your responsibilities.

Conclusion:

God knows how attractive the world is to us, and how easily we begin to covet the possessions of others. He also knows that greed feeds on itself and leads to even greater sin.

But if in the attempt to get it all we fail, then our greed turns to envy of others who seem to have it all. "Envy packs a 'double whammy.' It demeans both the envier and the one being envied--who is most often a friend or family member."

Hebrews 13:3-6
Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (NIV)

Ephesians 5:3
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. (NIV)