"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 20:17This commandment shows us that God is not merely concerned with out outward behavior. If that were true, this list of commandments would have stopped at "Thou shalt not steal." This final step demonstrates God's interest in the condition of your heart.
Obviously, other people are affected by murder, adultery, lying, and stealing. But what is the harm in coveting things that belong to other people as long as we dong lie, steal or kill to get it?
Well, we should start by being clear about meaning of the word "covet." If you look it up in a dictionary you will probably find a definition that sounds something like this: "to desire wrongfully, inordinately, or without due regard for the rights of others."
That last part, "without due regard for the rights of others," sounds rather familiar. If you go back and look at the discussion on stealing (Rule #8), you'll see that I talked about the attitude a thief must have toward other people when he steals from them. Basically, anyone who steals thinks that he or she is better in some way than other people. Therefore these people think they are more deserving of certain things and take them.
Clearly this is not how God wants us to view others since He tells us things like "love one another" and "love your neighbor as yourself." Furthermore, to covet something is to be dissatisfied with what God has given you. If you are consumed by a desire for something that isn't yours, you break commandment #10 and #1 at the same time because you have removed God from the center of your life and replaced Him with something else.
Actually, coveting leads to breaking all kinds of commandments. Take, for example, King David. His troubles started when he saw Bathsheba and wanted her (#10). His coveting lead to adultery (#7) which he tried to cover up (#9). When his deception didn't work, he resorted to murdering her husband (#6). Then he took Bathsheba as his own wife (#8).
Most of our sins spring out of our lack of contentment with God's plan for our lives. David was a shepherd boy whom God took and made him Israel's champion and ultimately their King. Thanks to God, David had success in battle, a large and prosperous kingdom, and popularity. David also lived in a palace and had multiple wives (which I am not condoning). But all of that still wasn't enough; he still wanted more.
Every time you search for happiness, joy, satisfaction, etc. apart from God's will, you will always come up empty. Even worse, you will likely find yourself with problems and issues you never wanted.
Do you really think more money, or more possessions, or a prettier/more handsome girlfriend or boyfriend will make you happier than you already are?
Rather than end up like David, consider the attitude of the apostle Paul: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:12-13)
Have you learned the secret to being content in every situation? Live your life according to God's will and you will learn it quickly. He is the only one will fill you with a joy that never fades away.
