The Effects of Covetousness

“You must not want to take your neighbor’s house. You must not want his wife or his male or female slaves, or his ox or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”- Exodus 20:17

Covetousness is a serious sin. It seems innocent enough to desire what someone else has like the same car, maybe their clothes, or even their spouse. The Bible reminds us that when we desire the things people have, it is called covetousness. Exodus 20:17 is one of the Ten Commandments God created. If we break His law, there are negative consequences to our actions.

We can believe that it is true by what the Bible tells us what happened to King David when he desired another man’s wife, Bathsheba. He pursued her and had sexual relations with her, and she became pregnant (2 Samuel 11:2-5). He tried to hide his sin by first having her husband Uriah come back from war just to have sexual relations with her (2 Samuel 11:11). After he refused to, King David had Uriah go back to war and had his servant Joab put him in the front lines to be killed (2 Samuel 11:14). After his death, King David married Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11:27).

God did not allow King David to get away with covetousness. He allowed the baby he had with Bathsheba to die (2 Samuel 12:18). When Eve desired fruit and gave some to Adam to eat after God told them not to, He separated them from Him by throwing them out of the garden (Genesis 3:22-24). Covetousness mentioned in the Bible never turns out great and there are negative effects when people desire things that are not given to them by God.

Prayer of the day:

Dear heavenly Father,

Nothing good comes from our desire to sin. A sin like covetousness could lead us to negative consequences like separation from You or causing pain to others. Help us to be content with what You have given to us. Please deliver us from the desire to want what others have. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!