A form of coveting is greed. Greed for more than you have or can earn. The advertisers of today have us all believing that we deserve nice things. Whether we can afford them or not we begin to feel that we need to have those things, we become greedy. Keep reading to identify coveting in its many forms-with some tips on overcoming this common weakness.

by Jennifer Slaugh, staff writer & Tawnya Gibson, staff writer

Thou Shalt Not Covet
Let’s just get this out in the open: Sometimes I wish my life was different. Sometimes I look at the lives my friends are leading and think, “She is so lucky. Her husband is kind and her children are cute and well-behaved. She did well in school and has a great job.” Sometimes I envy a life that seems idyllic. Because I care for my friends and family, I don’t begrudge them happiness or success, I just want to be that happy and that successful.

When I think of the commandment, “Thou shalt not covet,” I generally apply it to me in the sense that I want the circumstances that others have been placed in, as opposed to the things that others own. I don’t usually want my neighbor’s ox; I covet my neighbor’s ease of life. Either way, though, it’s something that can eat away at happiness and cause me to neglect the things I have been blessed with. So, what do we do when the feelings that everyone else got a better spot in life than we did seem to take over our lives? What do we do when we not only envy what others have, but covet what others have?

The Family Home Evening Resource Book defines coveting as, “…an ungodly desire for something that belongs to another. It can lead to greed, stealing, jealousy, envy – even murder.”

Today, the word covet may not be common place, but is still used as a normal synonym for ‘want’. An Internet search shows the word is used for several store and website names. It seems to have lost its original impact as the tenth of the Ten Commandments.

In addition to its place among the commandments, Deuteronomy 5:21 says, “Neither shalt thou desire they neighbor’s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor’s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox. Or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbor’s”, and in Romans 13:9, it simply states, “Thou shalt not covet”.

Coveting encompasses more than wealth and riches. A person can covet appearance, talents and personality traits as well. When you covet, you are displaying signs of selfishness and ungodliness. In 2 Samuel, we read the story of David, who covets another man’s wife. His coveting led to adultery and eventually murder to cover up his actions. Although an extreme (or not so extreme) case, we can learn from David’s mistakes and repent of our own greed and jealousy. In the March 1990 Ensign article, “Thou Shalt Not Covet”, by President Gordon B. Hinckley, coveting is described as a “trap that can destroy any of us in our search for joy and happiness. It is that devious, sinister, evil influence that says, 'What I have is not enough. I must have more.' "

If you place a desire of things, power, or people above those things of God, we are neglecting our divine purpose in this life. Not only are we breaking one commandment, but in placing anything higher in status than our relationship to Heavenly Father, we are breaking others as well: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).

It is natural and encouraged to become self-reliant and to become comfortable and happy with the possessions and talents we have been given. However, we need to watch the difference between self-reliance and not ever having ‘enough’ worldly possessions. Marion G. Romney, in the article, “The Celestial nature of Self-Reliance”, said, “The practice of coveting and receiving unearned benefits has now become so fixed in our society that even men of wealth, possessing the means to produce more wealth, are expecting the government to guarantee them a profit.” He goes on to discuss how we cannot afford to rely on the government for our livelihoods and we should work to become self-reliant. George I. Cannon, said, “Each day can be richer and more meaningful if we can be happy with ourselves…We should be grateful for who we are and what we are, and for the talents we have been given.” (“Today- A Day of Eternity”, Ensign, November 1991)

Additional Resources:

First Presidency Message "Thou Shalt Not Covet"
Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, Mar. 1990, 2

Put Off the Natural Man, and Come Off Conqueror
Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign, Nov. 1990, 14

Thou Shalt Not
Sterling W. Sill, Ensign, Dec. 1971, 92

"Brother's Keeper"
Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, Nov. 1986, 20

A More Excellent Way
Robert E. Sackley, Ensign, Nov. 1988, 21

First Presidency Message Becoming the Pure in Heart
Spencer W. Kimball, Ensign, Mar. 1985, 3

The Ten Commandments
Bernard P. Brockbank, , Dec. 1971, 61

Greed, Selfishness, and Overindulgence
Joe J. Christensen, Ensign, May 1999, 9

Obedience, Consecration, and Sacrifice
Bruce R. McConkie, Ensign, May 1975, 50

What's in It for Me?
James E. Faust, Ensign, Nov. 2002, 19

Peace, Be Still
Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Nov. 2002, 53

The Visiting Teacher: "Charity Envieth Not"
Ensign, Feb. 1988, 53

"The Success of My Brethren"
Glenn L. Pace, Tambuli, Nov. 1989, 44

The Other Prodigal
Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign, May 2002, 62

If you need more, perhaps a review of the ten commandments.