Why does our heavenly Father command us not to covet? I mean, this is not a suggestion or piece of advice, it is a command. What is coveting, and what can  cause us to do it?

Let's have a look at what it means to 'covet.' According to Webster's New World dictionary a person is 'coveting' when they...

1) Want something that belongs to someone else;
2) Crave something that isn't theirs;
3) Wish for something excessively.

So what does this mean to us, in our day and time? Look around you? People fight over things every day. They will steal to get what someone else has and they want. They will actually kill because they want something that belongs to another. Be it actual things, time, or reputation.

Coveting is the opposite of contentment. Contentment is being satisfied with what we have. It is being at peace. Notice what 1 Timothy 6:6-11 says:

"But godliness is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing from it. If we have food and clothing, we should be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into all kinds of temptation and traps and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some folks, eager to have money, have left the faith and acquired many griefs."

This is why GOD commands us not to covet. Not to keep us from enjoying life but to protect us. This is why all of the ten commandments were instituted in the first place.  But some will protest, saying " If I don't actually do anything except think...that isn't coveting, is it?"

Read what James had to say: 

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but can't get it. You covet and kill..." ~James 4:1-3.

And again: 

"...each of us is tempted by our own evil desires... Our unspoken desires make us sin..." ~James 1:14,15.

Quite simply put, coveting is based on 'self first' and greed.  But GOD says that we, who belong to Him, are to "Set our minds on heavenly things, not what is here on earth. Because our lives are now hidden in CHRIST JESUS..." ~Colossians 3:3. Stop a moment, and meditate on this.

So how do we overcome a covetous attitude, and become content with what GOD has blessed us with? Develop an attitude of gratitude. Because the ONLY way to get a heart of contentment is to engage excessively in giving thanks to the LORD. Covetousness cannot stay in a heart filled with gratitude and thanksgiving to GOD!

This is the last of GOD's Ten Commandment law. But we know that no matter how much time has elapsed since GOD gave them we have ample evidence that He expects us to still keep [or obey] them. "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." ~John 14:15; "If anyone loves Me, they will obey Me." ~John 14:23; "We show our love for GOD by obeying His commandments, and they are not hard to follow." ~1 John 5:3; "Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep [obey] the commandments of GOD, and the faith of JESUS." ~Revelation 14:12; "And the dragon was enraged with the woman [that is the Christian church], and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD..." ~Revelation 12:17; "Blessed are they that do [obey] His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life and enter in through the gates into the city." ~Revelation 22:14. We are not to choose our way above His way. No matter how we interpret GOD's laws, He says "KEEP" His laws. Our GOD is holy, and when we do not comply with His commands we are, in essence, thumbing up our noses to Him.

The purpose, the whole purpose, and nothing but the purpose of GOD's Ten Commandments is as a guage that reveals the quality of our walk with our Commander-in-Chief! It reveals exactly the degree in which we love GOD and our fellow human beings.