Stealing vs Coveting

[Cartoonist]

I have to break with God on this. I can understand why stealing is bad, but totally disagree with his ban on coveting. Where would humanity be if we didn't covet a better life?

Should I not want food for my family? Should I not want better living conditions? Should I not want the same justice as my neighbor?

What is coveting but ambition? What is coveting but inspiration?
What is coveting but the single most important motivation in human progress?

In trying to understand covetphobia, I read an article by an apologist. His reasoning was all too familiar. Sheep are supposed to be accepting of their lot in life. Taking action to improve one's life distances one from God. No, I am not kidding.

Why is coveting so deadly? Because it can never be satiated. Coveting relentlessly craves more of this world; and a person’s thoughts, affections, and heart occupied with the world will cease seeking heaven.

Sorry Padre, but I'd rather fix things here on Earth than covet the empty promise of heaven.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. One definition of "covet" is "to desire wrongfully, inordinately,

or without due regard for the rights of others." https://www.dictionary.com/browse/covet That's the sort of coveting God doesn't approve of. That part of the Ten Commandments says “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” So coveting is objectionable to the extent that you wrongfully desire something that belongs to someone else. So the concept is that you can desire things you don't have as long as they don't belong to another person (because that kind of coveting can lead to other bad thoughts and acts).

[Cartoonist]

2. I still object

What is "wrongfully covet"? If I smell the aroma of a roasting turkey coming from my neighbor's kitchen and my cupboard is bare, is it wrong for me to covet that bird? Besides, the word wrongfully is not present in the Commandment. No fair changing the definition of covet to fit an agenda.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Hey, I don't care. Covet away. I'm just offering an exegesis, but it isn't mine.

I'm an agnostic and I have no agenda. But here's the theological explanation. https://www.gotquestions.org/you-shall-not-covet.html :

Whereas several of the commandments prohibit certain actions, such as murder and theft, this is one of the commandments that address the inner person, his heart and mind. As James 1:15 tells us, the inner person is where sin originates, and in this case, covetousness is the forerunner of all manner of sin, among them theft, burglary, and embezzlement. At its root, coveting is the result of envy, a sin which, once it takes root in the heart, leads to worse sins. Jesus reiterated this very thought in the Sermon on the Mount when He said that lust in the heart is every bit as sinful as committing adultery (Matthew 5:28). Envy goes beyond casting a longing glance at the neighbor’s new car. Once dwelled upon, envy of the neighbor’s possessions can turn to feelings of resentment and hatred for the neighbor himself. That can turn into resentment against God and questioning Him: “Why can’t I have what he has, Lord? Don’t you love me enough to give me what I want?”

God’s reasons for condemning covetousness are good ones. At its very core, envy is love of self. Envious, selfish citizens are unhappy and discontented citizens. A society built of such people is a weak one because envious malcontents, as stated before, will be more likely to commit crimes against one another, further weakening the societal structure. Furthermore, the New Testament identifies covetousness as a form of idolatry, a sin which God detests (Colossians 3:5). In the end, envy and covetousness are Satan’s tools to distract us from pursuing the only thing that will ever make us happy and content—God Himself.

Again, this is not my agenda. I'm not religious. But you wanted to know why the God of Christians and Jews disapproves of coveting, and this is why.

[Cartoonist]

5. I addressed that

I am not contradicting you personally.

covetousness is the forerunner of all manner of sin, among them theft, burglary, and embezzlement

It is also the forerunner of invention, research, self motivation, and progress.

the only thing that will ever make us happy and content—God Himself.

[Major Nikon]

8. So how did the neighbor acquire all those things?

It's hard to imagine not doing so without coveting them first, and all of those things would have belonged to someone else previously, including his wife or wives.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. Maybe he bought them? I dunno.

[Major Nikon]

10. I'm just saying the desire to have those things must have preceded any purchase

At any rate we can't really know what the original authors meant, so anyone can interpret it anyway they want. It's just that for at least the last 2 thousand years, the interpretation has been thou shall not envy what your neighbor has.

[Mariana]

4. It's very convenient for those in power

if the people they rule are satisfied with their condition, no matter how awful. If slaves covet freedom, for example, or if women covet equality, or if the poor covet adequate food and shelter, why, they might take steps to acquire those things for themselves. That would inconvenience the rulers, the priests, and the wealthy. So, just tell them their god(s) prohibited even thinking about improving their lives.

[MineralMan]

6. Coveting is a very, very old concept.

It involves wanting things you don't deserve. That leads to people who have things not wanting you to have the things they have, because they think they deserve them and you don't.

The aristocracy especially likes to condemn coveting. While they dine on delicacies, the regular people can't have them, because the aristocrats deserve them, because aristocracy. See, ordinary people should be satisfied with gruel and scraps, because, well, they're serfs.

The Pope dines on delicacies, too, because he's entitled, being Pope and all. He doesn't want lay people to starve, of course, but gruel and coarse food will keep them alive, so that's OK, then.

So, bottom line: If you want things that the wealthy and powerful have, that's coveting, see. It's sinful to want things you don't deserve, you peon. Know your place and eat your gruel, or burn in Hell.

That's how it works.

[Major Nikon]

7. It's worth pointing out women are described as property by these same commandments

You can't covet your neighbor's house, slaves, his ass, or his wife.

It's also worth pointing out a big part of organized religion is keeping the unwashed masses from rioting. Suffering during one's lifetime is expected as the conveniently unverifiable reward comes later.