COVETOUSNESS

Thou shall not covet. —Exodus 20:17

…covetousness, which is idolatry. —Colossians 3:5

Have you noticed how the tenth commandment (“Thou shalt not covet”) relates to the first two commandments (idolatry). That is because every time you and I covet something that is not ours, we are wanting what God hasn’t graciously granted us to have. Therefore, we have put that thing before God.

Eve’s sin was coveting the knowledge that Satan told her would make her like God (Gen. 3:5). Eve’s covetousness lead to her breaking both the first and tenth commandments.

When you think about it, covetousness lies at the root of breaking the other commandments: Coveting what isn’t ours causes us to lie, steal, commit adultery, murder, and refuse to honor our parents. We refuse to rest one day out of seven because we can’t get what we want in six days of work. We misuse God’s name when we use it to justify something that we want to do. We make idols out of wealth and relationships because we don’t want to have to put all our trust in God.

Just because “Thou shalt not covet,” is the last commandment, doesn’t mean it is the least important. It is simply God’s way of summing up the previous nine commandments.

Bottom Line: BE CONTENT with what God has already given you. If you need it, He’ll provide it!