Coveting is a sin that is behind many more sins to this day. For example, the sin behind theft is coveting what is not legitimately ours, which leads on to stealing it. Coveting sex with someone other than our own spouse is the root sin behind the sin of adultery and rape. Coveting people's approval or esteem is the sin that lies behind impressing others through gossip. The list is long. Jesus warns of greed and covetousness: Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” (Luke 12:15, NLT) Paul tells us that covetousness is actually idolatry (Colossians 3:5 ESV). Jesus tells us that such sin comes from a heart that is not right with God (Mark 7:21-22). Paul outlines the parallel between breaking God's law and breaking the first command in Romans 7:7-11, showing that coveting was the original sin that resulted in the Fall. The alternative to coveting is to love our neighbour as ourselves. Commandments 6-10 can be “summed up in this word, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself” (Romans 13:9). The key to doing this is to be content. Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” (Hebrews 13:5, NLT) I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. (Philippians 4:12, NLT) Be ought to be kind, generous, loving, giving, patient, obedient, gracious, merciful, towards others. If we do God's will first, he guarantees that we will be content and have all that we need (not necessarily all that we might want): Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (Matthew 6:33, NLT) Further, God promises that we will have our heart's desire, if we seek his “will to be done on earth as it is done in heaven”: Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. (Psalm 37:4, NLT) If we follow Jesus, doing his will, obeying his commandments, trusting him with all our concerns, we will know peace in our hearts, fulfilment in our lives, contentment, and peace of mind. People are chasing after these things, but looking for them in the wrong direction, going down the path of covetousness which leaves us with an empty feeling in the long run, instead of following God when we have joy, peace, and a holistic sense of fulfilment in the long run. The gospel message is glorious – people can be fulfilled in Jesus, instead of feeling unfulfilled by chasing after the things of this world.