Isn’t coveting just a thought? Is it sinful to wish and work for something you do not have?
Suggested Daily Reading: Matthew 6:19-34
God’s law transcends man’s laws. Man’s laws govern human behavior and speech. But God’s law also penetrates our minds and hearts. Only God knows and judges our motives and thoughts.
Money is not evil and being rich is not wrong. To save your money and purchase something nice that you need is not sinful. But the love of money; i.e. living for worldly wealth and possessions is sinful (I Tim. 6:10). To covet is to set your heart on worldly things and to think you would be happy, content and fulfilled if you possessed earthly things.
The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life means loving the world (I John 2:16). As humans, we were created for a far greater purpose than living to get more earthly possessions, honors and pleasures for ourselves. We were created to know, love, serve and rejoice in an eternal, omnipresent, loving and infinite God. Nothing short of this will ever satisfy the human heart. You have experienced the truth of this. As a young child you coveted a certain toy; later maybe a bicycle; and then a car, etc. You thought if only I could have this object, then I would really be happy and content! And after you received it, how long did your happiness last? How soon did you start setting your eyes and thoughts on something else? How quickly were you coveting again?
We were created to love and to give. Not to be selfish and to get more and more for ourselves. God loves a cheerful giver (II Cor. 9:7) not a covetous person, who is discontent and only wants more and more for self. To live for a cause far greater than yourself; to love God above all and others as yourself, is very liberating. It frees you from the shackles of living selfishly for yourself. Pray and strive to live a loving and fulfilling life – one that loves and gives!
Read the suggested daily reading. Why does Jesus teach here that no moth or rust will harm the treasure of loving God above all, and that no robber can ever steal this wealth? Why does James call the law of God the perfect law of liberty in James 1:25? Why is it true that all who live apart from God live covetous lives? How does the tenth of the Ten Commandments reveal this is the law of God and not of man?
