“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”
Exodus 20:17 NKJV
The dictionary defines the word covet as “having a strong desire to possess something that belongs to somebody else.”
It is okay to want something. The danger comes when we want what someone else has. You probably don’t struggle with coveting a neighbor’s donkey, ox, or servant as the commandment suggests. But could it be a friend’s husband that you wish were your own? A neighbor’s swimming pool? A sibling’s talent? A star’s fame?
When God tells us that we “shall not,” we must pay attention. His commandments are for our good. Catch yourself when you sense a desire for that which is not yours. Appreciate what you have—your own gifts, blessings, and belongings. An even higher calling is to be happy for others in their accomplishments and as they acquire possessions.
God, You have poured out so many blessings on me. Protect my heart from desiring that which belongs to others. Amen.
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Today’s reading was adapted from Daily Wisdom for Women: 2013 Devotional Collection with permission from Barbour Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reading was written by Emily Biggers.