“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
–Exodus 20:17
The first nine commandments have to do with actions. But the Tenth Commandment, “You shall not covet,” has to do with your attitude. The first nine have to do with deeds, but the tenth has to do with desires.
Think about it this way. Most of the sins we commit are outward and visible. It’s pretty easy to spot stealing when you see it, and if you’re the subject of a lie, you see it up-front. But the sin of covetousness is inward and invisible. Others can’t see it. You can’t see it. Only God can see it.
That’s why the apostle Paul spoke in 1 Thessalonians of the cloak of covetousness. It’s a cover-up for a lot of other sins like selfishness, greed, cheating, and on and on and on.
Right now, our nation and really our world are paying a high price for our collective covetousness and greed. Its symptoms, to name just a few, are things like excessive credit card debt, bank failures, and corporate scandals. We are paying a price for the ungodly way we have handled our possessions!
And it’s not just Wall Street who’s to blame. We need to look in our own hearts too! Because if we think we’ll be happier by having more stuff or better stuff… if we buy the lie that our identity is found in the car we drive or the clothes we wear or the street we live on… we will always be disappointed.
I mean, think about it. How many times have you experienced the “new” wearing off on something you bought? We all have. Things… while they might bring temporary satisfaction or pleasure… ultimately don’t satisfy! The only thing that will ever really satisfy the hunger in your heart is an intimate, growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
So today, let me remind you again of all you’ve been given as a child of God. You have forgiveness of sins. You have a new identity in Christ. You have the Word of God. And you have the Spirit of God living in you! Remind yourself today of these truths to combat the temptation to covet.
As a follower of Christ, you have far more than you deserve… and you have everything you will ever need!
THE ONLY THING THAT WILL EVER REALLY SATISFY THE HUNGER IN YOUR HEART IS AN INTIMATE, GROWING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.
