You shall not covet (Exod 20:17)

There is a certain progression in these last five commandments we covered going from actions (murder, adultery, stealing) to words (false witness) and then inward desires, the latter in turn giving rise to actions and words prohibited before.[1] Since internal thoughts and feelings cannot be prosecuted, the last prohibition highlights that the Ten Commandments are not so much legal requirements but a set of principles to live by. Of course, many of the commandments are repeated with specific case studies and penalties involved later in the law, but here, Israel is given an ethical framework that broadly delineates actions, speech and internal states of mind. Although this is defined in the negative, we have seen that out of the prohibitions emerges a positive picture of the kind of people Israel needs to be and the kind of God they will serve.

It is appropriate to conclude the Ten Commandments on desire since the first disobedience originated with the appeal of an object that looked good, was a delight for the eyes and it seemed to encapsulate all that the human couple thought they needed to be fulfilled (Gen 3:6). Behind such desire is an unquenchable thirst for what God has not given. It is surprising since Adam and Eve were told that they could eat from any tree except one (Gen 2:16). Thus, their grasping has to be measured against the bounty that they were given. Interestingly, when David’s adultery and murder are condemned by the prophet, the sin is described primarily as contempt for God’s Word and His person, who has given to David generously and would have given more if asked (2 Sam 12:7-10).

Desire in itself is not necessarily wrong, of course. Healthy desires propel us forward and help us achieve our goals. However, the coveting described in the last commandment is based on envy or greed. We measure ourselves by the standards of what other people have. In our materialistic cultures, we have so much more than the bare essentials for living that we may have lost sense of where a healthy balance lies. Perhaps the best indicator to me of unhealthy desire for more is when the appetite remains insatiable after eating. In other words, we get what we want but possessing it does not satisfy and the desire returns almost immediately for something else.

How can we overcome coveting in our own hearts? The two things that spring to my mind are cultivating an attitude of rest and contentment in what we do have and gratitude towards God for the gifts that He has given. Once again, having desires even for material things are not necessarily wrong and with so much advertising around us for more, more and more, it is hard to avoid. But the point is that we bring our desires to God and seek His will for our lives. Poverty in itself is not a virtue, neither is having wealth a sin. However, when decisions are driven by maintaining a particular standard of living materially and satisfying one’s cravings, people often end up working endless hours in stressful jobs that they dare not give up because of the financial repercussions. They may also overspend beyond their budget and end up in debt or not be able to spend the money on things that do matter. Underlying the prohibition is the reality of a God who is generous, who gives open-handedly, yet knows what is good for us and will not give stones instead of bread or snakes instead of fish (Matt 7:9-10). We can place our requests before the Lord in trust that He will give us what is best. Finally, knowing God’s generosity should encourage us to be generous to others, in our judgement of them, in our forgiveness, in our giving (Luke 6:35-38).

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[1] T. Desmond Alexander, Exodus, AOTC (London: Apollos; Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2017), 426.

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