Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”

                                                                                                                 Hebrews 13:5 

The tenth and final commandment deals with coveting. To covet is to desire the things that other people have. The actual commandment reads, “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 belongs to your neighbor (Exodus 20:17). Coveting usually indicates displeasure with our own circumstances. Desiring the material possessions of others can also point to the reality that we have lost our focus of making a relationship with Christ priority one. The tenth commandment tells us not to covet but the underlining spirit and purpose of the commandment is that, as believers, we should be content in our lives.

Today’s passage tells us to keep our character free from the love of money. In other words, we should be people whose outlook on life is not based on the amount of material possessions that we have rather on our spiritual condition and the blessings that we have in Christ. In this passage, Jesus reminds us that our outlook should be a positive and power one because we live in the reality that He “will never desert or forsake us.” This means that everything we will ever need is found in Christ alone and that He is perfectly capable of providing everything that we need for this life and life eternal. Consider Jesus’ words:

For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

                                                                                                            Matthew 6:25-26 

Did you catch that last statement? We are much more valuable to God than the animals. God takes care of the birds so how much more will He take care of our every need? When we live in this reality, we cease worrying about our lives (in the material sense) and simply trust God to provide. This does not mean that we do not work rather we trust in Him to provide as we live out His calling on our lives. He goes on to say: 

Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

                                                                                                           Matthew 6:31-33 

As we seek His kingdom and His righteousness first (as priority one), we can then rest in His Divine provision over our lives. A similar thought is found in the Psalms:

Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. 

                                                                                                               Psalm 37:4 

When our delight is the Lord Himself and His presence in our lives, He will then give us what we desire in our hearts. He can do this because He sits in the proper place, on the throne of our lives.

So coveting can be dealt with simply by being content with what we have. This does not mean that we should not have hopes and dreams. It doesn’t mean that we do not do things to improve ourselves and the lives of those for whom we are responsible rather it simply means that in every situation, we praise God for His goodness in our lives. Consider Paul’s words:

I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

                                                                                                           Philippians 4:12-13 

God will always allow us to “do all things” regardless of our financial or social position. This only makes sense since we cannot take anything (materially) from this world. Again, consider Paul’s outlook: 

But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.

                                                                                                               1 Timothy 6:6-7 

When we live godly lives and are content with our position and possessions, these two things work in tandem to produce a life full of great gain. And that is what just about everyone is looking for in this life. Contentment, joy, purpose, peace, and fulfillment are all goals of humanity but they are only realized in a personal, saving, relationship with Jesus Christ!