You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s. Exodus 20:17
No matter where one looks, there is always someone who has something more than the one looking. Neighbors always appear to have something better, newer, greater than what one has. Desire rises up into the heart and mind of a person to have that something and to do whatever it takes to get it, no matter the cost.
One of the commandments God gave Moses to give to the Israelites was that they were to not covet anything of their neighbor’s possessions.
Jealousy for what someone else has is a common trait among people. Rules are often made to try to stop the wealthy from having all that they have. Some will attempt to take it away to share the wealth among everyone.
This desire for what others have is coveting what they have. It is more than just liking what they have, but being willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Friendships and relationships have been destroyed over one coveting what they other has.
Satan began this coveting in the garden of Eden when he tempted Eve with getting what God has. In reaching for what belonged to God, Adam and Eve sinned against God and brought death upon themselves. Coveting what others have will lead one into sinning against God.
Rather than coveting what others have, believers are to rejoice in what others have. They are to be content with what God has already blessed them with and not seek for more than what God wants them to have.
There will always be someone around you that has something different than you and maybe more than you. It will be easy for jealousy to rise up in your heart and allow you to begin to covet that item. Take a moment to look at how great God has blessed you and taken care of you without those items your neighbor has. Rejoice that God has blessed your neighbor and taken care of you at the same time. Do not allow your heart to covet anything that your neighbor or anyone else has. Find your contentment in Christ Jesus and all that He has given you that is worth more than all the things of this world.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will reveal any coveting in your heart; that you will rejoice in what God has blessed others with; and that you will be content with God has blessed you with.
Photo by Sam Pearce-Warrilow on Unsplash
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