Do Not Covet - 10th Commandment
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Exodus 20:17
When we covet, we are discontent. What happens when we are discontent with our circumstances?
Discontentment can breed all kinds of things- jealousy, hatred, and selfishness to name a few. We tend to want what we don’t have, be consumed by our desire for something else, and one of the last things we do is think about others. Sometimes we even get angry with God over our earthly situations. We are so prone to love the world, that we can forget how to be content in our heavenly father.
But our relationship with God is the root of our contentment (Phil 4:11-13). In Matthew 14:13-21 Jesus fed the 5000. These people came to hear him because they were spiritually hungry. But Jesus didn’t stop after he fed their souls; he took care of their physical hunger too.
Our heavenly father knows exactly what we NEED. Sometimes there are differences between NEEDS and WANTS. The line can appear blurry to us at times, but know that the Lord knows our needs (Matthew 6:32).
Is it ok to want something you don’t have? Yes, but if it is starting to consume you and you are becoming discontent with your current situation, then it probably is crossing over into covetousness. When we feel ourselves becoming discontent and covetous, we should turn to the Lord. Ask him to help us be satisfied with our portion in life. I
sn’t it neat that the 10 commandments begin and end with God? They begin by telling us to have no other God’s before Him. And they end by reminding us to be content in Him, and not wish for earthly things that other people have.
When we are content in the Lord, our lives are so much more enjoyable- even when circumstances are hard. Then we are not focused on ourselves, and can serve others as well. Ask God to help you find contentment in Him.
Are you content in your circumstances?