Why is coveting wrong

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Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. If coveting is a form of idolatry, how can I reframe my thinking? Coveting is a sin of the heart It develops on the inside where others cannot necessarily see it. The difference here is important.

It reveals how a healthy desire for something can become dangerous when that desire has jealousy and obsession attached to it. Watch Our Episode Preview. Tags: 10 Commandments , characteristic , covet , coveting , delighting , deserve , deserving , desire , entitled , entitlement , envy , evil , goodness , jealous , jealousy , last commandment , Lucifer , mine , Moses , neighbor , obsession , power , Satan , sin , Ten Commandments , tenth commandment , want , wrong.

Related Episodes. All Episodes. Listen Now. View Answer. Learn More. How is it that he can make the connection between coveting and loving our neighbor? Why does one inhibit the other? We tend to believe that coveting is an isolated problem, affecting no one but ourselves. Yet, coveting, like all sins, disrupts our relationships and our ability to hold people within proper view.

We are called to celebrate with one another Romans , respect the position to which the Lord has called each of us 1 Corinthians , and acknowledge that we are merely stewards of resources that belong to the Lord Matthew , 1 Corinthians We become distracted with their allotment in life — their talents, their opportunities, and their stuff.

If our thoughts are consumed in jealousy or idolatry, our actions and words will be affected. This is why Solomon tells us to guard our hearts, for the heart drives all we do Proverbs Much like pride, covetousness deceives our minds into thinking that we are personally responsible for our own provisioning.

It gives authority to our desires, making us believe that our desires are the best indicator of what we need or should have. In this way, coveting becomes the origin point for other sins. Before we steal, we covet what we want to take. Every sin is a manipulation of what began as good. Many of the things we covet may be of great worth. We may desire a talent, experience, home, family, or relationship. Each of these things may be used unto the glory of the Lord.

They are not sinful in and of themselves. Our Father intended all good things to stir our affections for him in recognizing that they came from his hand James As we enjoy what he has given, we enjoy the Giver himself. The problem becomes when we terminate our gratitude and adoration upon the thing itself, and not upon the Lord who gave it.

Instead, our enjoyment of good things should draw our hearts to worship the Source. Yet, Scripture also makes clear that our worship is not dependent upon our possessions or circumstances.

Avarice cuts us off from our greatest good by attacking our relationship with God directly. It leads us to grasp for and cling to the things of this world, to our substituting the creature for the creator in a base form of idolatry. In contrast, envy attacks our relationship with God by targeting our relationships with our neighbors.

Envy does not simply coax us toward the idolatry of avarice. It not only wants to possess that which it perceives the other to have, but it desires that the other be deprived of that which he or she has. As Aristotle wrote, envy is pain at the good fortune of others. Envy is resentful. In direct opposition to the commandments of love, envy leads to hatred of our neighbor.

In short, envy is deadly precisely because of its total undermining of the two great commandments: envy is hatred of our neighbor which is hatred of God, which is hatred of self. The antidote to avarice and envy is generosity. Generosity stands diametrically opposed to both. Whereas avarice and envy emanate from a mindset of lack, generosity flows from a mindset of abundance; of overflowing. This makes sense because generosity is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, who is God.

And the fruits of the Spirit are an overflowing of love for the world as Love produces only love. This is the great and first commandment. Coveting fails to love your neighbor as yourself. They are happy with their Christmas presents until they see a sibling or friend get something bigger and better.

And you know what happens next? But as easily as we can see the selfishness of children, we can be blind to our own self-regard. We notice the camper down the street or the new addition with all the righteous indignation of kids on Christmas morning. We all have wish lists. I wanted it! Second, we covet when our desire leads to or is an expression of, discontentment.

Our discontentment is an expression of how much more we think God owes us.