How can I avoid coveting?
Proverbs 23:17Don’t envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord.
Philippians 4:12-13I 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. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Hebrews 13:5Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
2 Peter 1:3-4By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
To avoid coveting, make your relationship with God your number one priority. The more you focus on God, the less you will focus on the things of this world that tempt you. The more you see life from his perspective, the less important material gains will be.
Psalm 119:36Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!
To avoid coveting, pray for an eager spirit to study and obey God’s Word, for the Word of God gives you the right perspective on money and possessions.
Genesis 19:17, 26When they were safely out of the city, one of the angels ordered, “Run for your lives! And don’t look back or stop anywhere in the valley! Escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away!” . . . But Lot’s wife looked back as she was following behind him, and she turned into a pillar of salt.
Romans 13:14Clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.
Philippians 3:19-20They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
Philippians 4:8Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
To avoid coveting, don’t allow yourself to keep thinking about and looking at things that stir those feelings and desires. Don’t spend time dwelling on what you can’t or shouldn’t have. Stay away from what is tempting you. Do something to get your mind thinking about more worthy and important things.
2 Chronicles 20:3Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news and begged the Lord for guidance. He also ordered everyone in Judah to begin fasting.
Daniel 10:2-3When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks. All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed.
To avoid coveting, sometimes it is helpful to practice doing without something important to you (such as fasting from food). It strengthens your self-control and gives you the confidence that you can stay away from something you are beginning to covet.
Hebrews 10:25Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
Hebrews 13:16Don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.
To avoid coveting, get busy with God’s people to do God’s work. Often, helping those in your church and those less fortunate will help you keep perspective and be grateful for what you have and what you can share.
Matthew 6:33“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Luke 12:15Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”
To avoid coveting, make a list of what you actually need versus what you want. Then enjoy watching God satisfy your needs.
Romans 13:9The commandments say, “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not covet.” These—and other such commandments—are summed up in this one commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Philippians 2:4Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
To avoid coveting, practice the art and discipline of loving others. When you genuinely love others, it will be difficult to covet because you will want what is best for them, not just what is best for you.
1 Timothy 6:6-11True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by 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. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows. But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
To avoid coveting, pursue right choices and trust God with the outcome. Choosing godliness keeps you from choosing worldliness.
