Covetousness is defined as "a strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing that which belongs to another." While the word often refers to the desire for things belonging to others, it can be used generically to refer to a desire for things; an unquenchable thirst to get more and more of something.

One of the Greek words translated as "covetousness" in the New Testament is pleoneksia. This word is actually a compound word. The first part of the word, pleon, simply means "more," and the second part, echo, means "to have." Thus, the word covetousness literally means "more to have."

One may have a hard time understanding how an intense desire to possess something or someone can be considered a serious sin. After all, our current culture seems to be based upon covetousness. Billions of dollars are spent on advertising so we will buy more and more things. TV programs showcase the lives of the rich and famous - holding them up as examples for us to follow. Casinos and race tracks are being built at what seems to be a record pace. All of this appears to be an endorsement of the desire to have more, but the Bible reveals the truth regarding this "must-have-more" mindset.

One of the problems with covetousness is that it often drives people to commit other sins. Included in the word "covetousness" is the idea of one who shamelessly overreaches into areas and places which are not his in order to satisfy his desires. The apostle Paul confirmed this dangerous characteristic of covetousness: "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil..." (1 Tim. 6:10). According to the Bible, covetousness leads to lying (2 Kings 5:22-25; Acts 5:1-5), theft (Joshua 7:21), domestic troubles (Prov. 15:27), murder and extortion (Ezek. 22:12), apostasy and "many sorrows" (1 Tim. 6:10).

Paul also identified covetousness as "idolatry" (Col. 3:5; Eph. 5:5). An "idol" is anything that takes "first place" in our heart. When the love of money (or any person or thing) takes the place of the love we are to have for God, it has become an idol.

Covetousness was forbidden in the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:17). Being the last commandment mentioned, its observance would keep one from violating the previous prohibitions against murder, adultery, theft, and bearing false witness (vs. 13-16). In the New Testament, covetousness is specifically mentioned among the sins that will defile a man and exclude him from the kingdom of God (Mark 7:20-23; 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Eph. 5:5).

Jesus gave a warning against the sin of covetousness: "And He said to them, 'Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses'" (Luke 12:15). Despite this warning, Judas' betrayal of Jesus was prompted by covetousness (Matt. 26:14-16).

Covetousness is overcome by contentment. To be content means to be satisfied with what one has. Contentment has to be learned (Phil. 4:11). We must learn to trust in God to provide our necessities. We must be thankful for our blessings rather than lusting after the things we do not possess. We must learn to deny self (Matt. 16:24), set our mind on things above (Col. 3:2), and love our fellowman as opposed to coveting his possessions.

William Barclay has said that covetousness is "the sin of the man who has allowed full play to the desire to have what he should not have, who thinks that his desires and appetites and lusts are the most important thing in the world, who sees others as things to be exploited, who has no god except himself and his desires." While covetousness is the overwhelming desire to have more things, the Lord would have us to hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matt. 5:6), to contend earnestly for the faith (Jude 3), to be diligent to grow in the Christian graces (2 Pet. 1:5-11) and to always abound in the work of the Lord (1 Cor. 15:58).