I struggle with overcoming coveting. Are some things okay to covet? What's the difference between the Old and New Covenant 10th commandment? What's the opposite of coveting? What does the Bible say?
It is in the top 10 and we're to hate it.
Exo 20: v17. Thou shalt not covet (desire greatly) thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour’s.
Exo 18: v21. Moreover, thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear Yahweh, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place [such] over them, [to be] rulers of thousands, [and] rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
The Old Covenant is talking about or actually acting on the great desire to have something.
Jos 7: v20. And Achan answered Joshua (there was no J in the Hebrew language at this time; thus the correct name was Yahshua), and said, Indeed I have sinned against Yahweh the El of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
V21. When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they [are] hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
V24. And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters (your sin hurts your innocent family around you. Remember King David:2Sa 12: v9.) Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of Yahweh, to do evil in his sight? Thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife [to be] thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
King David looking at Bathsheba.
Nathan telling David he is the man in the parable.
V14. Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of Yahweh to blaspheme, the child also [that is] born unto thee shall surely die.}), and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
V25. And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? Yahweh shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones and burned them (he and his family!) with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.
The New Covenant is just thinking about something you desire that's not yours.
1Th 2: v4. But as we were allowed of YahwehShua to be put in trust with the evangel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but YahwehShua, which trieth our hearts (minds).
V5. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; YahwehShua [is] witness:
The opposite of coveting is being content.
Heb 13: v5. [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
It can prolong your life (in this age or the next) similar to the fifth commandment.
Pro 28: v16. The prince that wanteth understanding [is] also a great oppressor: [but] he that hateth covetousness shall prolong [his] days.
Exo 20: v12. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which Yahweh thy El giveth thee.
Coveting is idolatry and frequently involves money.
Col 3: v5. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Pro 21: v26. He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
1Ti 6: v10. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1Ti 3: v3. Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre (money); but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
Many false assemblies use smooth words and false doctrine to take people’s money.
2Pe 2: v3. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words (false doctrine) make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
1Th 2: v5. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; YahwehShua [is] witness.
Being around covetous people in the world is not the problem. It's in the true assemblies.
1Co 5: v9. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
V10. Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
V11. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
V12. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within?
V13. But them that are without YahwehShua judgeth. Therefore, put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
2Pe 2: v13. And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, [as] they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots [they are] and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
V14. Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
V15. Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam [the son] of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
You may end up outside the Kingdom (family) in the New Heavens and Earth if you don’t get it (coveting) out of your mind.
1Co 6: v9. Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of YahwehShua? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
V10. Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of YahwehShua.
How do we cleanse our mind? Pray to Yahweh (Father) in the name of YahwehShua (Son). Paul mentions making every thought captive!
2Co 10: v4. (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through YahwehShua to the pulling down of strong holds;)
V5. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of YahwehShua, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of YahwehShua Messiah;
We must embrace the New Covenant Ten Commandments and scriptures.
Psa 119: v24. Thy testimonies also [are] my delight [and] my counsellors
V25. My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word.
V26. I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes.
V27. Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works.
V28. My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word
V29. Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
V30. I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid [before me.]
V31. I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O YAHWEH, put me not to shame.
V32. I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.
V33. Teach me, O YAHWEH, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it [unto] the end.
V34. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with [my] whole heart.
V35. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
V36. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousnes.
Paul again mentions about getting covetousness out of the assemblies.
Eph 5: v3. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh Saints;
Are some things okay to covet?
1Co 12: v28. And YahwehShua hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that, miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
V29. [Are] all apostles? [are] all prophets? [are] all teachers? [are] all workers of miracles?
V30. Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
V31. But covet earnestly the best gifts (fruits of the Holy Spirit): and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
1Co 14: v39. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
V40. Let all things be done decently and in order.
John touches on it as well.
1Jn 2: v15. Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father (Yahweh)is not in him.
V16. For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
V17. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of Yahweh abideth for ever.
1Jn 1: v8. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
V9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
V10. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
James too.
Jas 1: v12. Blessed [is] the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
V13. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
V14. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
V15. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Repent daily!
Be content. Strive not to covet! Covet to be in the Kingdom of Yahweh the Father and YahwehShua the Son our Creator. Pray to Father Yahweh in the name of his resurrected Son YahwehShua Messiah to cleanse your mind and to help you bring every wrong thought into captivity. A beloved brother doesn't watch much TV, which can be the source of many wrong thoughts and desires.
HalleluYahwehShua!