Coveting 

           

            Coveting is the wrongful desiring something that rightly belongs to someone else, be it money, property, possessions or what not. It is not good at all and can very often lead to jealousy and envy. It is even a form of idolatry in a sense because the person who is doing the coveting of whatever is worshipping the object that is being coveted after, as their desire is that strong, rather than God, who deserves all our praise and worship.  The coveting anything of anyone else that they posses also is very selfish and unloving towards the person who possesses the item that is coveted after.

The tenth commandment speaks out very strongly against this:

(Exodus 20:17)  "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's."

 

(Deuteronomy 5:21)  "'And you shall not covet your neighbor's wife. And you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.'

 

Now in Deuteronomy 7 the Lord gives a special strong warning against coveting certain items held by enemy nations:

(Deuteronomy 7:25)  The carved images of their gods you shall burn with fire. You shall not covet the silver or the gold that is on them or take it for yourselves, lest you be ensnared by it, for it is an abomination to the LORD your God.

 

(Deuteronomy 7:26)  And you shall not bring an abominable thing into your house and become devoted to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest and abhor it, for it is devoted to destruction.

 

Look at what happens to Achan, who violated the above commandment given in Deuteronomy  and it had bad consequences for Israel as a whole when they first went up against Ai and were soundly defeated as God was not with them because of Achan’s greedy and covetous action, and the harsh consequences which resulted for Achan and his family too from their coveting and greed:

(Joshua 7:1)  But the people of Israel broke faith in regard to the devoted things, for Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things. And the anger of the LORD burned against the people of Israel.

 

(Joshua 7:2)  Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, "Go up and spy out the land." And the men went up and spied out Ai.

 

(Joshua 7:3)  And they returned to Joshua and said to him, "Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few."

 

(Joshua 7:4)  So about 3,000 men went up there from the people. And they fled before the men of Ai,

 

(Joshua 7:5)  and the men of Ai killed about thirty-six of their men and chased them before the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them at the descent. And the hearts of the people melted and became as water.

 

(Joshua 7:6)  Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads.

 

(Joshua 7:7)  And Joshua said, "Alas, O Lord GOD, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan!

 

(Joshua 7:8)  O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies!

 

(Joshua 7:9)  For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?"

 

(Joshua 7:10)  The LORD said to Joshua, "Get up! Why have you fallen on your face?

 

(Joshua 7:11)  Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings.

 

(Joshua 7:12)  Therefore the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turn their backs before their enemies, because they have become devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more, unless you destroy the devoted things from among you.

 

(Joshua 7:13)  Get up! Consecrate the people and say, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the LORD, God of Israel, "There are devoted things in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the devoted things from among you."

 

(Joshua 7:14)  In the morning therefore you shall be brought near by your tribes. And the tribe that the LORD takes by lot shall come near by clans. And the clan that the LORD takes shall come near by households. And the household that the LORD takes shall come near man by man.

 

(Joshua 7:15)  And he who is taken with the devoted things shall be burned with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he has done an outrageous thing in Israel.'"

 

(Joshua 7:16)  So Joshua rose early in the morning and brought Israel near tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was taken.

 

(Joshua 7:17)  And he brought near the clans of Judah, and the clan of the Zerahites was taken. And he brought near the clan of the Zerahites man by man, and Zabdi was taken.

 

(Joshua 7:18)  And he brought near his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.

 

(Joshua 7:19)  Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me."

 

(Joshua 7:20)  And Achan answered Joshua, "Truly I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and this is what I did:

 

(Joshua 7:21)  when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath."

 

(Joshua 7:22)  So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and behold, it was hidden in his tent with the silver underneath.

 

(Joshua 7:23)  And they took them out of the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the people of Israel. And they laid them down before the LORD.

 

(Joshua 7:24)  And Joshua and all Israel with him took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver and the cloak and the bar of gold, and his sons and daughters and his oxen and donkeys and sheep and his tent and all that he had. And they brought them up to the Valley of Achor.

 

(Joshua 7:25)  And Joshua said, "Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD brings trouble on you today." And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones.

 

(Joshua 7:26)  And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor.

 

In this case, as well as other cases coveting often affects more than just the person doing the coveting and can have dire consequences too for everyone.

A similar situation happened here with the battle against Amalek, where the Amalekite king was taken alive when he should not have been and much animal spoil was brought back, both against God’s will, for He wanted them destroyed in punishment and judgment for what they did to Israel in Exodus 17. Saul put the blame on the people of Israel for this example of coveting after something devoted to destruction but as a leader he also bears responsibility. Also, Saul wanted to sacrifice the animals taken there to the Lord, as well:

(1 Samuel 15:1)  And Samuel said to Saul, "The LORD sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the LORD.

 

(1 Samuel 15:2)  Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt.

 

(1 Samuel 15:3)  Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'"

 

(1 Samuel 15:4)  So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah.

 

(1 Samuel 15:5)  And Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley.

 

(1 Samuel 15:6)  Then Saul said to the Kenites, "Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt." So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

 

(1 Samuel 15:7)  And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt.

 

(1 Samuel 15:8)  And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword.

 

(1 Samuel 15:9)  But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.

 

(1 Samuel 15:10)  The word of the LORD came to Samuel:

 

(1 Samuel 15:11)  "I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments." And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the LORD all night.

 

(1 Samuel 15:12)  And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, "Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal."

 

(1 Samuel 15:13)  And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed be you to the LORD. I have performed the commandment of the LORD."

 

(1 Samuel 15:14)  And Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?"

 

(1 Samuel 15:15)  Saul said, "They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the LORD your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction."

 

(1 Samuel 15:16)  Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop! I will tell you what the LORD said to me this night." And he said to him, "Speak."

 

(1 Samuel 15:17)  And Samuel said, "Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel.

 

(1 Samuel 15:18)  And the LORD sent you on a mission and said, 'Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.'

 

(1 Samuel 15:19)  Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the LORD?"

 

(1 Samuel 15:20)  And Saul said to Samuel, "I have obeyed the voice of the LORD. I have gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction.

 

(1 Samuel 15:21)  But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal."

 

(1 Samuel 15:22)  And Samuel said, "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

 

(1 Samuel 15:23)  For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king."

 

(1 Samuel 15:24)  Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.

 

(1 Samuel 15:25)  Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may worship the LORD."

 

(1 Samuel 15:26)  And Samuel said to Saul, "I will not return with you. For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel."

 

(1 Samuel 15:27)  As Samuel turned to go away, Saul seized the skirt of his robe, and it tore.

 

(1 Samuel 15:28)  And Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.

 

(1 Samuel 15:29)  And also the Glory of Israel will not lie or have regret, for he is not a man, that he should have regret."

 

As a consequence of these actions and disobedience to God in the campaign against Amalek, Saul was rejected by the Lord for the foolishness of what he did and letting the people do as they want, apparently, as the leader must take consequences for not leading. There are excellent points too about how that obedience is indeed better than sacrifice, too.

Here is the story of evil king Ahab who coveted the vineyard of Naboth, and when Naboth would not sell or trade it to the king, he was falsely accused of cursing God and the king by false witnesses and then was murdered by stoning, just so Ahab could get the vineyard, which scheme was mostly all done by Jezebel, Ahab’s wife. Then, as a result of what happened and Ahab possessing the vineyard, Elijah pronounced judgment and doom upon Ahab (and Jezebel, too) for this (and other offenses, too like idolatry) Ahab actually repented of his foolish actions there, upon hearing the judgment sentence pronounced by Elijah, crying and all, and God then had mercy, deferring some of the judgment to Ahab’s son:

(1 Kings 21:1)  Now Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.

 

(1 Kings 21:2)  And after this Ahab said to Naboth, "Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house, and I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money."

 

(1 Kings 21:3)  But Naboth said to Ahab, "The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers."

 

(1 Kings 21:4)  And Ahab went into his house vexed and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food.

 

(1 Kings 21:5)  But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, "Why is your spirit so vexed that you eat no food?"

 

(1 Kings 21:6)  And he said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, 'Give me your vineyard for money, or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it.' And he answered, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'"

 

(1 Kings 21:7)  And Jezebel his wife said to him, "Do you now govern Israel? Arise and eat bread and let your heart be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."

 

(1 Kings 21:8)  So she wrote letters in Ahab's name and sealed them with his seal, and she sent the letters to the elders and the leaders who lived with Naboth in his city.

 

(1 Kings 21:9)  And she wrote in the letters, "Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth at the head of the people.

 

(1 Kings 21:10)  And set two worthless men opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, 'You have cursed God and the king.' Then take him out and stone him to death."

 

(1 Kings 21:11)  And the men of his city, the elders and the leaders who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. As it was written in the letters that she had sent to them,

 

(1 Kings 21:12)  they proclaimed a fast and set Naboth at the head of the people.

 

(1 Kings 21:13)  And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him. And the worthless men brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth cursed God and the king." So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones.

 

(1 Kings 21:14)  Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth has been stoned; he is dead."

 

(1 Kings 21:15)  As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, "Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money, for Naboth is not alive, but dead."

 

(1 Kings 21:16)  And as soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

 

(1 Kings 21:17)  Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,

 

(1 Kings 21:18)  "Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession.

 

(1 Kings 21:19)  And you shall say to him, 'Thus says the LORD, "Have you killed and also taken possession?"' And you shall say to him, 'Thus says the LORD: "In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick your own blood."'"

 

(1 Kings 21:20)  Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, O my enemy?" He answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the LORD.

 

(1 Kings 21:21)  Behold, I will bring disaster upon you. I will utterly burn you up, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel.

 

(1 Kings 21:22)  And I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the anger to which you have provoked me, and because you have made Israel to sin.

 

(1 Kings 21:23)  And of Jezebel the LORD also said, 'The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel.'

 

(1 Kings 21:24)  Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the open country the birds of the heavens shall eat."

 

(1 Kings 21:25)  (There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the LORD like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited.

 

(1 Kings 21:26)  He acted very abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the LORD cast out before the people of Israel.)

 

(1 Kings 21:27)  And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly.

 

(1 Kings 21:28)  And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,

 

(1 Kings21:29)  "Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son's days I will bring the disaster upon his house."

 

Gehazi, after his master Elisha turned down receiving something from Naaman over the healing which Elisha knew was only through God and His mercy, not anything that Elisha or Gehazi did, gave in to his own covetousness, and did get something but was most severely punished not only for coveting but he lied to Elisha about what he died, saying he didn’t go anywhere when he went after Naaman to receive something

(2 Kings 5:20)  Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him."

 

(2 Kings 5:21)  So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, "Is all well?"

 

(2 Kings 5:22)  And he said, "All is well. My master has sent me to say, 'There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.'"

 

(2 Kings 5:23)  And Naaman said, "Be pleased to accept two talents." And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi.

 

(2 Kings 5:24)  And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed.

 

(2 Kings 5:25)  He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, "Where have you been, Gehazi?" And he said, "Your servant went nowhere."

 

(2 Kings 5:26)  But he said to him, "Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants?

 

(2 Kings 5:27)  Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever." So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow.

 

 

Here is the story of Ananias and Sapphira whose greedy coveting of money caused their being struck down dead by the hand of God, for lying to the Holy Spirit and as the apostles about how they gave because they implied that they had given all of the money from the sale of land when in fact they only gave a portion of it. The Holy Spirit revealed the truth to the apostle Peter who confronted them both:

(Acts 5:1)  But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property,

 

(Acts 5:2)  and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet.

 

(Acts 5:3)  But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land?

 

(Acts 5:4)  While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

 

(Acts 5:5)  When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

 

(Acts 5:6)  The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

 

(Acts 5:7)  After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.

 

(Acts 5:8)  And Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." And she said, "Yes, for so much."

 

(Acts 5:9)  But Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out."

 

(Acts 5:10)  Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband.

 

(Acts 5:11)  And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things.

 

And here is the story of Simon the sorcerer, who actually coveted something worthy to be coveted of, the ability to impart the Holy Spirit on anyone prayed over - but the fact this ability is something that is a gift from God and cannot be bought with money at all, and Simon was soundly rebuked by Peter for thinking wrongly and very strongly urged to repent of his wrongful thought patterns

(Acts 8:18)  Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money,

 

(Acts 8:19)  saying, "Give me this power also, so that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

 

(Acts 8:20)  But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

 

(Acts 8:21)  You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

 

(Acts 8:22)  Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.

 

(Acts 8:23)  For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity."

 

Here is a strong warning in Micah against all coveting and evil:

(Micah 2:1)  Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in the power of their hand.

 

(Micah 2:2)  They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them away; they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.

 

(Micah 2:3)  Therefore thus says the LORD: behold, against this family I am devising disaster, from which you cannot remove your necks, and you shall not walk haughtily, for it will be a time of disaster.

 

(Micah 2:4)  In that day they shall take up a taunt song against you and moan bitterly, and say, "We are utterly ruined; he changes the portion of my people; how he removes it from me! To an apostate he allots our fields."

 

(Micah 2:5)  Therefore you will have none to cast the line by lot in the assembly of the LORD.

 

Jesus also said what comes out of a person defiles him such as coveting:

(Mark 7:20)  And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him.

 

(Mark 7:21)  For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,

 

(Mark 7:22)  coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.

 

(Mark 7:23)  All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."

 

Jesus tells warns against also telling a parable against coveting- and greed:

(Luke 12:13)  Someone in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."

 

(Luke 12:14)  But he said to him, "Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?"

 

(Luke 12:15)  And he said to them, "Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

 

(Luke 12:16)  And he told them a parable, saying, "The land of a rich man produced plentifully,

 

(Luke 12:17)  and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?'

 

(Luke 12:18)  And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

 

(Luke 12:19)  And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.'

 

(Luke 12:20)  But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?'

 

(Luke 12:21)  So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."

 

Romans 1 speaks of coveting as a behavior of evil men

(Romans 1:28)  And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

 

(Romans 1:29)  They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,

 

(Romans 1:30)  slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,

 

(Romans 1:31)  foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

 

(Romans 1:32)  Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

 

In Romans 7 Paul speaks of covetousness as a fleshly act and all to be avoided:

(Romans 7:5)  For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.

 

(Romans 7:6)  But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

 

(Romans 7:7)  What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet."

 

(Romans 7:8)  But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.

 

(Romans 7:9)  I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died.

 

(Romans 7:10)  The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.

 

(Romans 7:11)  For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.

 

(Romans 7:12)  So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

 

Here is an implied warning against coveting in James 1

(James 1:14)  But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.

 

(James 1:15)  Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

 

Also here is this warning in the first 3 verses of James 4

(James 4:1)  What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

 

(James 4:2)  You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

 

(James 4:3)  You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

 

Personally I believe the warning in verse 8 also applies to coveters, their idol being what they covet so please repent:

(Revelation 21:6)  And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

 

(Revelation 21:7)  The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

 

(Revelation 21:8)  But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

 

Here is some sound advice on just staying away even exposing coveting

(Ephesians 5:1)  Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

 

(Ephesians 5:2)  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

 

(Ephesians 5:3)  But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

 

(Ephesians 5:4)  Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

 

(Ephesians 5:5)  For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

 

(Ephesians 5:6)  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

 

(Ephesians 5:7)  Therefore do not become partners with them;

 

(Ephesians 5:8)  for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

 

(Ephesians 5:9)  (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),

 

(Ephesians 5:10)  and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

 

(Ephesians 5:11)  Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

 

Here also is strong advice about staying away from coveting and also what to do:

(Colossians 3:1)  If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

 

(Colossians 3:2)  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

 

(Colossians 3:3)  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

 

(Colossians 3:4)  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

 

(Colossians 3:5)  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

 

(Colossians 3:6)  On account of these the wrath of God is coming.

 

(Colossians 3:7)  In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.

 

(Colossians 3:8)  But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

 

(Colossians 3:9)  Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

 

(Colossians 3:10)  and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

 

(Colossians 3:11)  Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

 

(Colossians 3:12)  Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,

 

(Colossians 3:13)  bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

 

(Colossians 3:14)  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

 

(Colossians 3:15)  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

 

(Colossians 3:16)  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

 

(Colossians 3:17)  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 

Here is some good advice to help you out in Romans 13

(Romans 13:8)  Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

 

(Rom 13:9)  For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet," and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

 

(Romans 13:10)  Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

 

(Romans 13:11)  Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

 

(Romans 13:12)  The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.

 

(Romans 13:13)  Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.

 

(Romans 13:14)  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

 

And here also is this message from Galatians since coveting is of the flesh and also of the spirit:

(Galatians 5:13)  For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

 

(Galatians 5:14)  For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

 

(Galatians 5:15)  But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

 

(Galatians 5:16)  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

 

(Galatians 5:17)  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

 

(Galatians 5:18)  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

 

(Galatians 5:19)  Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,

 

(Galatians 5:20)  idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,

 

(Galatians 5:21)  envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

(Galatians 5:22)  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

 

(Galatians 5:23)  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

 

(Galatians 5:24)  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

 

(Galatians 5:25)  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

 

(Galatians 5:26)  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

 

(Galatians 6:1)  Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

 

(Galatians 6:2)  Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

 

(Galatians 6:3)  For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

 

(Galatians 6:4)  But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.

 

(Galatians 6:5)  For each will have to bear his own load.

 

(Galatians 6:6)  One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.

 

(Galatians 6:7)  Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

 

(Galatians 6:8)  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

 

(Galatians 6:9)  And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

 

(Gal 6:10)  So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

 

Do not be afraid to ask for help and prayer if struggling with coveting or anything else for that matter, at all, as it says in James 5 prayer can be very effective:

(James 5:16)  Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

 

And also in Matthew 18 too where people pray together:

(Matthew 18:18)  Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

 

(Matthew 18:19)  Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

 

(Matthew 18:20)  For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

 

And remember Jesus can and will set us free from anything at all, when we believe, and that includes all coveting:

(John 8:31)  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,

 

(John 8:32)  and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

 

(John 8:33)  They answered him, "We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, 'You will become free'?"

 

(John 8:34)  Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.

 

(John 8:35)  The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.

 

(John 8:36)  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

 

If anything at all is to be coveted after and sought diligently it is the freely given gifts of the spirit which are listed here in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, as well as a deeper relationship and walk with Jesus, which will set you free of anything besetting you:

(1 Corinthians 12:4)  Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;

 

(1 Corinthians 12:5)  and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;

 

(1 Corinthians 12:6)  and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

 

(1 Corinthians 12:7)  To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

 

(1 Corinthians 12:8)  For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,

 

(1 Corinthians 12:9)  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

 

(1 Corinthians 12:10)  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

 

The gifts of the spirit should be strongly desired, even coveted after as this verse suggests:

(1 Corinthians 12:31)  But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way.

 

Of course, love is that more excellent way that is spoken of, which is shown in the very next chapter of 1 Corinthians, which is 13.Here is a good prayer from an Anglican history website against coveting so please do pray this with me to help it be broken from you in the Name of Jesus for all things are possible through Him that believe:

O Almighty God, eternal Treasure of all good things, thou fillest all things with plenteousness; Thou clothest the lillies of the field, and feedest the young ravens that call upon thee: Thou art all-sufficient in thy self, and all-sufficient to us, let thy Providence be my store-house, thy dispensation of temporal things the limit of my labour, my own necessity the measures of my desire: but never let my desires of this world be greedy, nor my labour immoderate, nor my care vexatious, and distracting, but prudent, moderate, holy, subordinate to thy Will, the measure thou hast appointed for me. Teach me, O God, to despise the world, to labour for the true riches, to seek the Kingdome of heaven and its righteousness, to be content with what thou providest, to be in this world like a stranger, with affections set upon heaven, labouring for, and longing after the possessions of thy Kingdomes; but never suffer my affectious to dwell below, but give me a heart compassionate to the poor, liberal to the needy, open and free inn all my communications, without base ends, or greedy designes, or unworthy sorts of gain; but let my strife be to gain thy favour, to obtain the blessedness of doing good to others, and giving to them that want, and the blessedness of receiving from thee pardon and support, grace and holiness perseverance and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen

Jesus loves you so much that  He died for all your sins, for His father covets very much to have a relationship with each and every one of us for He really did care for us that much. It is easy to come to Him and have that relationship, all you need to do is pray with me a fairly simple and straightforward prayer and Jesus will come in to you. Please pray this with me:

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

God bless you and yours