What’s Wrong with Coveting?

We all have desires. Our God-given instincts include food and shelter. As parents we desire to help our children succeed in life. We desire loving spouses, a good job, compassionate employers, effective employees, quality healthcare, reliable transportation, and healthy recreation. So when do our desires become covetousness?

Coveting—an intense desire for something that belongs to another—might seem like a harmless thought, but throughout history, it has been recognized as a root cause of moral and societal decay. The Tenth Commandment, found in Exodus 20:17, warns:

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Unlike other commandments that govern outward actions, this one addresses internal desires, specifically those desires that often lead to harm for ourselves and others.

In ancient Israel, covetousness was seen as a precursor to sin. King David, who seemingly had everything a man could want, coveted his neighbor’s wife to such a degree that he ended up breaking at least three other commandments—don’t steal, don’t commit adultry, don’t murder. (2 Samuel 11)

Later in the Old Testament we read about King Ahab coveting Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kings 21) and Achan’s greed (Joshua 7) that illustrate how unchecked desire can lead to betrayal, injustice, and divine punishment.

Jesus expanded on the commandment, teaching that sin begins in the heart. In Luke 12:15, He warns:
“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
Paul, in Romans 7:7, acknowledges that the commandment revealed his own sinful nature, showing that covetousness is a heart issue rather than just an external act.

To more specifically address the question, “What’s wrong with coveting?” consider this:

• Coveting breeds discontent. Advertising and social media fuel today’s comparison culture, making it harder for individuals to find contentment
• Coveting shifts the focus from gratitude to dissatisfaction, making people feel unfulfilled even though we are better fed, better housed, and enjoy cleaner air and water, better sanitation and better transportation than the millions who lived before us.
• Coveting leads to harmful actions like theft, deception, and betrayal. One only has to look at greed, corruption, and unethical business practices that arise from an unchecked desire for more.
• Coveting undermines relationships, damaging friendships, marriages, and families as it fosters jealousy and resentment. It often creates a mindset where people compete rather than support one another.
• Coveting turns our focus away from God.

The Tenth Commandment serves as a timeless reminder to cultivate contentment, integrity, and trust in God’s provision. The Bible encourages healthy desires that align with God’s will, fostering spiritual growth, righteousness, and love. Here are some key desires that Scripture affirms:

1. Desire for God and His Presence

• Psalm 42:1 – “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.”
• Matthew 6:33 – “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
• Longing for God’s presence leads to spiritual fulfillment and deepens faith.

2. Desire for Wisdom and Understanding

• James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach.”
• Proverbs 4:7 – “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.”
• Seeking wisdom helps navigate life’s challenges with discernment and integrity.

3. Desire for Righteousness and Holiness

• Matthew 5:6 – “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
• 1 Peter 1:16 – “Be holy, because I am holy.”
• Striving for righteousness leads to moral integrity and a life that honors God.

4. Desire to Love and Serve Others

• Mark 12:31 – “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
• Galatians 5:13 – “Serve one another humbly in love.”
• Loving and serving others fosters compassion, unity, and selflessness.

5. Desire for God’s Will and Purpose

• Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him.”
• Psalm 37:5 – “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.”
• Surrendering to God’s plan brings peace, direction, and fulfillment.

These desires reflect a life centered on faith, wisdom, and love, guiding believers toward spiritual maturity and joy.

The Ten Commandments

And God spoke all these words:

² “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

³ “You shall have no other gods before me.

⁴ “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. ⁵ You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ⁶ but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

⁷ “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

⁸ “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. ¹¹ For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

¹² “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

¹³ “You shall not murder.

¹⁴ “You shall not commit adultery.

¹⁵ “You shall not steal.

¹⁶ “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

¹⁷ “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Exodus 20:1-17