You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbour’s. (Ex. 20:17)
Some people can never be satisfied. Their quest for glory seems to be unremitting. No sooner has one accomplishment been reached, another target is put. It is all-consuming and never-satisfying. This works for people who drive themselves on to attain fame in the eyes of others, or simply want to keep up with the Joneses.
Whilst the other Words given can and have been legislated, there is a surprising lack of legal recourse for this one, because as opposed to the others on the horizontal level which have obvious physical expressions, this one drives at the heart of who we are. This one hits to the core of the question of desire, for this Word clearly states that the desire should not be for the stuff of others, whether that’s personal, relational or material. Yet that is exactly what is promoted as the drive for a number of societies – if he has it, you’ve got to get it, she’s wearing it, you’ve just got to have it. The outlet may appear innocuous through the driving of commerce, but the inherent desire is to have that which someone else has.
The problem with the heart of the desire is what it says about everything this series of spiritual intent has been outlining. The heart of contentment in the physical, horizontal world in which we live is found in the unseen vertical spiritual connection offered to us in the exclusive relationship we have with the LORD who takes us out of slavery to sin, out of the misery of ongoing captivity to unsatiated fleshly desires. When that priority is set that which will consume us is that relationship with God that informs everything else. There is no room or desire to wish for that which belongs to the neighbour. In line with the other sentiments behind the other Words, this is not about inhibiting primarily, it is about reminding and releasing us by that key of the primary relationship.
That relationship is bound by love and served by love and so unsurprisingly is informed by that which is other-oriented. How can I serve the other, how can the love that frees me be of help to someone else? How can the grace that has been revealed to me shine in the situation of someone else? How can the mercy that sees me gain love, peace and joy from the great liberator be a source of comfort or consolation to someone in my circle of influence today?
As we’re enthused and filled with such concerns – ones that inform the Kingdom of the Lord who liberates us – there can be no room for the covetous sentiments that drive our world today. As these questions inform our day there is no room for envy or jealousy, but rather celebrating and rejoicing with those who are doing well and grieving and mourning with those who are suffering. This love-led, other-oriented, God-glorifying ethos compels those who have been liberated to live contently with the material possessions knowing that these do not establish their identity, neither do they determine status or merit where it matters most. For this area can only be truly covered through spiritual intent.
As that is the case it becomes by the by who our neighbour is married to, what quality goods may suffuse their belonging or other issues of superficial and material concern. What is at stake is their holistic welfare. What is of concern is whether they are engaged and connected with the LORD God who through His Son Jesus Christ sacrificially liberated people from the chains of death. Being channels of sharing that good news and referring to these ten Words that underpin the spiritual intent that makes life worth living becomes of far greater importance.
How these Ten look with other aspects of life as well and fits so well gives every opportunity to direct ourselves and others to these on a constant basis. We reassure our hearts that the One thing that we covet and desire is already freely available to us – the One that can satisfy completely has made it possible to relate with Him and so we need covet none other.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
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