“Do not covet” Exodus 20:14, what this means has been disputed for a long time. Many authorities, such as R. Israel Meir Kagan (The Concise Book of Mitzvoth, Negative Commandment 40) argue that this commandment only applies when a person begins to actually take steps toward getting the thing they want.
This view seems extreme. After all, Rambam even states that for certain kinds of items the moment a person thinks to himself, “How is it possible to acquire this from him?” he has coveted (Mishneh Torah, Gezelah va’Avedah 1:10). However, it is important to point out that according to Babylonian Talmud, Baba Meisa 5b, this only applies to something that we cannot get legally. If it is for sale, then it is allowed to think “How can I get this item?” If the item is not for sale, though, it is not allowed.
The Master and Rambam give very different warnings against coveting. Rambam very simply states that coveting leads to theft. R. Yeshua, though, tells a story.
The land of a rich man brough forth plentifully; and he thought to himself, “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?” And he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns, and build larger ones; and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, be merry.” But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?” Luke 12:16-20 (NRSV)
This is a much more elegant way of dealing with coveting because it talks about an entire lifestyle. To the Master the reason coveting is wrong is not because it leads to stealing, though that is true. The problem with coveting is that it is the wrong way to approach life. As he says, “A man’s life is not from the abundance of his posessions.” (Luke 12:15)
Life comes from much more important things. Life comes from family. From justice. From doing right. Above all, life comes from God, not from things. This is why desiring things is prohibited.
I think I agree with you. I would say it boils down to what you're trusting in. The man in the parable was trusting in his riches for the future, but it availed nothing when God took his life.
ReplyDeleteI'd prolly quibble with how you phrased the last statement - desiring things is not necessarily bad. God Himself says He rewards us with material blessings as well as spiritual ones. But the desire for things should not lead us to trust in things... but rather to thank the God Who provides them.
Yeah, I didn't mean to say that. I think I had too many things going through my head at once. As long as desire is controlled it's alright to want things. It's important to remember, though, to "seek first the Kingdom of God."
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