To covet is “to desire eagerly; to long for; especially to desire something belonging to another.”

Covetousness is as old as sin and first affected man in the Garden of Eden. Eve coveted the fruit that God had forbidden, resulting in the fall with all of its attendant sorrows.

The first evidence of covetousness in Israel’s new land is recorded in Joshua 7:21 and has to do with the sin of Achan, whose thievery and disobedience halted the victorious march of his people and their conquest of the land of Canaan.

The early church was shocked by the coveting couple: Ananias and Sapphira, who lied to God and lost their lives as a result of their sin.

Another moving Bible example of covetousness is the account of King Ahab and his confiscation of Naboth’s vineyard. This good man refused to sell his property to the wicked king and became the victim of Queen Jezebel’s wrath. See I Kings 21.

Covetousness opens the door to all sin.

Covetousness has no place in a Christian’s life.

It isn’t fitting.

Not Christlike.

What do you want that you should not have? Are you willing to trample on others to get it? Beware of the sin of covetousness.

Victory over covetousness comes through setting one’s affections on things above rather than on things of earth. When our goals are within the will of God, covetousness is conquered.