Do Not Invite Being Devoured by Dogs Through the Sin of Covetousness

by Neema Joshua | 26 April 2020 08:46 pm04

Exodus 20:17 – “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

The Lord gives a strong emphasis here on one command: “You shall not covet.” Notice that He lists nearly every area of life where covetousness could arise — relationships, possessions, property, and more.

Here, “not coveting” does not mean you should never desire to own something similar to what your neighbor has. Rather, it forbids desiring that exact thing which belongs to your neighbor — to the point where you begin seeking ways to take it from them, either by manipulation or force. This attitude is what God hates.

The sin of covetousness is costly, which is why God highlighted it in His law. Scripture gives us two sobering examples of how this sin can destroy lives:

1. King David and Bathsheba
David saw Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, and desired her. His lust led him to commit adultery and then arrange Uriah’s death to cover it up (2 Samuel 11). The consequences were devastating:

David experienced a season where God’s favor withdrew from him.

The prophet Nathan declared that calamity would rise from within his own house.

In fulfillment of this prophecy, his own son Absalom publicly slept with David’s concubines (2 Samuel 16:22). Imagine the humiliation — your own child committing such an act before the whole nation.

2. King Ahab and Naboth’s Vineyard
Ahab desired Naboth’s vineyard because it was close to his palace (1 Kings 21). When Naboth refused to sell it, Ahab became sullen and depressed. His wife Jezebel then plotted Naboth’s death so Ahab could take the land.
Ahab did not repent but took possession of the vineyard. As judgment, God declared through Elijah that dogs would lick Ahab’s blood in the very place where Naboth had been killed (1 Kings 21:19). This came to pass exactly as spoken (1 Kings 22:38).

Modern-Day Examples of Covetousness
In relationships: A woman visits her neighbor’s house and notices how hardworking, kind, and respectful the neighbor’s employee is. Instead of seeking to hire someone with similar qualities, she schemes to lure that exact worker away — perhaps offering a higher wage — thereby causing harm to her neighbor’s household. Such actions mirror the spirit of Ahab and carry the same spiritual danger.

In business: Someone sees that a fellow shop owner is thriving in a certain location. Instead of finding a similar opportunity elsewhere, they approach the landlord and offer more rent to take over that exact shop space, pushing the other person out. This is covetousness, and God warns that it invites judgment.

The Call to Contentment
The Apostle Paul wrote:

1 Timothy 6:6 – “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

Contentment protects us from the trap of envy and keeps us in alignment with God’s will. Before desiring something, we should ask:

Will this harm my neighbor if I pursue it?

Am I trying to take something that rightfully belongs to them?

If the answer is yes, it is better to walk away and avoid bringing a curse upon ourselves.

Conclusion
God’s command “You shall not covet” is a guardrail against both personal destruction and the breakdown of community trust. Those who ignore it, like David and Ahab, face shame, loss, and judgment. But those who embrace contentment and integrity will walk in blessing.

Let us therefore “keep our lives free from the love of money and be content with what we have, for God has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5).

Be blessed — and share this truth so that others may also be freed from the snare of covetousness.

Source URL: https://wingulamashahidi.org/en/2020/04/26/do-not-invite-being-devoured-by-dogs-through-the-sin-of-covetousness/

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