10th Commandment: You Shall Not Covet
Covetousness is a root sin and dates back to the Garden of Eden. The Bible records how King Saul was jealous of David’s success and coveted the praise and honour which David received for his victories (1 Sam18:6-8). As a result King Saul plotted to murder David. King David coveted the wife of his neighbour Uriah. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and then connived to have Uriah killed to cover up his sin (2 Sam11:1-27).

THE CURSE OF COVETOUSNESS
King Ahab coveted the vineyard of Naboth, (1 Kings 21:2-4). The Prophet Micah warned of those who: “Covet fields and take them by violence, also houses, and seize them. So they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.”  Micah 2:2

Once when returning home from a ministry event, a military chaplain who was transporting me, stopped to give a ride to a woman who was clearly distressed. After speaking intensely to her for some time, he dropped her off at a nearby village and the chaplain began to relate to me why this woman was so upset. A member of the family had died and all the relatives had entrusted her with the money required to organise everything for the funeral. On the way to the funeral parlour this woman had seen the casino and the thought took hold of her that she could double all this money and keep the other half for herself. Perhaps she could treble it, or quadruple it!
She had just gambled away everything that she had, including the many thousands of rands that had been entrusted to her by her family members for the funeral arrangements. None of their people were well off. All of this money represented substantial sacrifice. She couldn’t see where they would be able to get the money from now in order to pay for the funeral. In her case covetousness had led to a catastrophic situation, which would ruin her life and her relationships with the extended family.

THE RICH FOOL
In the parable of the rich fool our Lord Jesus Christ warned us: “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Luke 12:15-21

“Now Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and…we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many… harmful lusts, which drown men in destruction…For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves…with many sorrows.” 1 Tim 6:6-10

THE LOVE OF MONEY IS A ROOT OF ALL KINDS OF EVIL
Our society is filled with people who are constantly striving to accumulate more toys – bigger, better, fancier cars, boats, home entertainment systems, cell phones, iPods, computer systems, and just about anything else you can name – simply because they covet what anyone else has. Advertisers play to our covetous nature declaring: “You can have it all!” and, “You are worth it!”

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

LOVING STUFF, HURTING PEOPLE
School children have literally been murdered for brand name running shoes and clothing. Every day we are bombarded by all kinds of advertising designed to encourage us to covet. And if we give in, we will never be satisfied.

We are always going to want just a little bit more. When someone asked billionaire John D. Rockefeller: “How much money would be enough?” Rockefeller famously replied: “Just a little bit more.” That is the nature of covetousness. It always wants more. Sometimes I have seen bumper stickers and t-shirts proclaiming: “Born to shop.” There is also another one that declares: “The one who dies with the most toys wins!” What a tragically short-sighted, superficial, materialistic and ultimately empty goal for life.

That some people really believe that their primary purpose in life is to pursue the accumulation of things is tragic. Instead of loving people and using things, all too many love things and use people.

COVETOUSNESS IS IDOLATRY
Covetousness is a sin that few people talk about. Few seem to recognise its insidious nature and that could make it one of the most dangerous of all sins.

The Apostle Paul wrote: “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God…therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.” Col 3:2-6

A MATTER OF HEART
Jesus condemned the Pharisees because they cleaned the outside of the cup but left the inside filled with all kinds of vileness and wickedness (Matthew 23:25-26). The Pharisees were meticulous about keeping the outward details of the Law. But their hearts were unclean. Jesus warned: “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” Matt 15:19

Covetousness is a root of all kinds of evil. The Tenth Commandment is extremely important because it goes to the heart, the inner man. It is spiritual: “For we know that the Law is Spiritual…” Rom 7:14.

The Tenth Commandment teaches us how the other Commandments are meant to be interpreted, not only dealing with externals, but also dealing with thoughts and motivations. It has convicting power. “What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the Law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the Law had said, you shall not covet…”  Rom 7:7

THE ROOTS OF SIN
Covetousness is the root of treason. It made Judas betray Christ. “What will you give me if I deliver Him unto you?” Matt 26:15. Absalom’s covetousness made him attempt to pluck the crown from his father’s head. He that is a Demas will soon prove a Judas. Covetousness is the root of murder.

Why did Ahab stone Naboth to death but to possess his vineyard? (1 Kings 21:13). Covetousness has made many swim to the crown in blood. Can the heart be pure when the hands are full of blood? (Is 1:15). Covetousness is the root of perjury. For love of money, men will take a false oath and break a just oath. Covetousness is the root of bribery and injustice. Covetousness is the root of idolatry: “Covetousness which is idolatry” Col. 3:5.

CONTENTMENT
The Tenth Commandment calls us to be content with what we have. Not to long for things that belong to others. To avoid the pursuit of happiness and joy through the accumulation of material wealth, possessions, someone else’s spouse and others’ friends. We are not to allow earthly things to fill a void that only God can fill. “Thou hast made us for Thyself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee” (Augustine).

NEEDS NOT GREED
We are to ask God to provide what we need. God promises that He will take care of our needs (not our greed) if we seek Him first and not money, popularity or possessions.
“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Heb 13:5

Jesus challenges us: “Therefore do not worry, saying, what shall we eat? Or what shall we drink? Or what shall we wear? For after all these things the gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you.” Matt 6:31-33

CONSIDER THE BIRDS
“…Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” Matt 6:25-26

The message ‘Soli Deo Gloria’ on each one Rand coin should remind us that we cannot serve both God and money. The chief end of man is to worship God and to enjoy Him forever.

FUELLING DISCONTENT
Generally, the purpose of advertising and marketing seems to be to feed on customers’ discontent by appealing to a person’s selfish nature. Most advertisers seem to promise people fulfilment, if we would only buy their product. Many adverts seem to suggest that when you purchase a particular item, you will be surrounded by friends, a beautiful spouse and have a really great, enjoyable life.

These advertisers research what people covet and play on the natural tendency of people to be dissatisfied with what they have. When the rich young ruler came to Christ and asked, “What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” The Lord Jesus went straight to the heart of the Tenth Commandment: “One thing you lack: go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” Mark 10:21

Covetousness is not the same thing as ambition. There is a God-given desire for us to aspire to be the best person we can possibly be. Covetousness by way of contrast is the inordinate desire for the things of this world. Covetousness is not concerned with needs, but greeds. It involves an all consuming desire for more than one needs or deserves.

GAMBLING IS A FRUIT OF SIN
Gambling is both a fruit and a root of sin. It is both a result of sin and a cause for sin. A person gambles because he desires to win money which was not earned through honest work. Covetousness is a form of idolatry. The lottery is not just ‘harmless entertainment’ but in many cases it is “a desperate but vain attempt to survive. But the odds against winning are so cruel that the lottery turns out to be theft by consent.” (Larry Burkett, ‘Truth About Gambling and Lotteries’).

GAMBLING IS BAD STEWARDSHIP
Christians must be wise stewards of the resources that God has entrusted to us. To lose at gambling is bad stewardship. To gain at gambling is to benefit at the expense of many others. Gambling is a classic example of the love of money that is a root of all kinds of evil. Gambling is a major cause of the neglect of the family and the break up of families. Money that should have been spent on food, clothing and housing goes for gambling. Gambling has led some people to murder. Gambling often leads to laziness. The Scripture declares: “…if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” 2 Thess 3:10

AN INDUSTRY FUELLING SELFISHNESS AND GREED
Enticing somebody to gain money at the certain loss of others violates virtually every principle taught by Christ. It breeds selfishness, greed and covetousness. The London School of Economics calculated that the burden of lottery spending hits the poor eight times harder than the rich.

“Gambling contributes nothing to the common good. It undermines values, mocks work, finances crimes, robs children, enslaves its addicts, subverts government and poisons whatever it touches.” (‘Gambling a Deadly Game’ by Larry Braidfoot).

Gambling not only has a devastating effect on the family and society as a whole, but it also destroys the individual. Family break ups, divorce and the loss of friends are frequent. After the legalisation of gambling in Namibia, a Namibian official reported: “All we have achieved is to make a few people much richer and a lot of people much poorer.” The Namibian report also noted that because of the legalisation of gambling more jobs had been lost than actually created.

RUINED BY THE LOTTERY
Britain’s national lottery was launched in 1994 as “a dream ticket to personal wealth”, while helping some good causes. However, it rapidly turned into a nightmare. Some of the new instant millionaires were forced into hiding by sacks of begging letters and hate campaigns. Charities complained that their donations plummeted while help groups reported a massive increase in the number of addicted gamblers they had to assist. The poorest and most vulnerable people, those who could least afford it, were the very ones who were sucked into gambling week after week. Gamblers Anonymous reported that people on all levels of society were being “ruined by the lottery.”

CASINOS AND CRIME
A report from Denmark revealed that almost two million Danish citizens (out of a population of just over five million) buy lottery tickets each week. The Danish report documented that legalised gambling in the country had led to alcoholism, personal economic ruin, divorce and suicides. “He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house.” Prov 15:27

An analysis by US News and World Report documented that wherever casinos were opened, crime increased. There was clear, documented evidence that with legalised gambling came a massive increase in bribery, fraud, extortion and bankruptcy, both of businesses and individuals.

COVETOUSNESS CREATES CHAOS
The chaos, lawlessness, devastation, poverty and starvation in Zimbabwe serve as a clear warning of where the sin of covetousness can lead. “Woe to him who covets evil gain for his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of disaster!” Hab 2:9

Covetousness is selfishness. “I need! I want! I must have! Give me!” Covetousness dedicates the heart to dreaming and scheming for the things of this world, in this life. Covetousness seeks happiness and fulfilment in material possessions. Covetousness focuses the heart and mind on popularity, esteem, status, fame, position, property, possessions, personal appearance or even “thy neighbour’s wife.”

CHOKED BY CARES
In the parable of the sower the Lord Jesus speaks of those who are choked with the cares, riches and pleasures of this life. Covetousness can sweep away all Spiritual concerns.  Covetousness is like the floodwaters that burst all bounds and, without direction or self-control, destroys all in its path.People whose minds and hearts have been given over to covetousness have no energy and enthusiasm left for truly important Spiritual activities. Covetousness is like an aggressive cancer rapidly overwhelming its victim, breaking down all health and effectiveness, crippling spiritual life.

IDOLATROUS AND INFECTIOUS
Covetousness is idolatry, and it is infectious. It diminishes people, preoccupying them with trivia. Covetousness requires enormous time and energy and it is the most self-justifying of sins.

Covetousness is a highly subtle sin, anaesthetising and extinguishing the conscience – as luxuries become necessities. The Apostle Paul instructed that no man should ever be appointed as an elder if he is covetous (1 Tim 3:3). The Apostle Paul wrote that believers were “not to keep company with anyone named a brother who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater…not even to eat with such a person.” 1 Cor 5:11

FLEE TEMPTATION
We should flee temptation just as Joseph and Daniel did as though we were running from an impending catastrophe. The Scriptures are clear that: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither covetous will inherit the Kingdom of God.” 1 Cor 6:9-10

One of the first safeguards against the cancer of covetousness is to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Secondly, we should cultivate contentment and generosity. It is hard to be covetous when we are giving things away.

CULTIVATING AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
To defeat the sin of covetousness in your own life, you need to study the Word of God and remain mindful of your blessings. “… for I have learned that in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Phil 4:11-13

Above all else love God alone.
Bow down to neither wood nor stone.
God’s Name refuse to take in vain.
The Sabbath rest with care maintain.
Respect your parents all your days.
Hold sacred innocent life always.
Be loyal to your chosen mate.
Steal nothing neither small nor great.
Report, with truth, your neighbour’s deed.
And rid your mind of selfish greed.

 “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.” Col 3:2