I once read that coveting has elements in all sin and it is true when you think about it. You covet someones wife and commit adultery. You covet someones belongings and steal. You covet your time and don't keep the Sabbath day holy or take time to honor your parents, neighbors or God. You covet whatever causes you to lie or murder. Of course worshiping man made idols instead of God is about coveting the material world.
Robert D. Hales said the following in Conference on Saturday morning. It may be the most important thing said this Conference in light of our present economic situation. His talk is a classic.
Being provident providers, we keep that most basic commandment, “Thou shalt not covet” (Exodus 20:17). Our world is fraught with feelings of entitlement. Some of us feel embarrassed, ashamed, less worthwhile, if our family does not have everything the neighbors have. As a result, we go into debt to buy things we can't afford—and things we do not really need. Whenever we do this, we become poor temporally and spiritually. We give away some of our precious, priceless agency and put ourselves in self-imposed servitude. Money we could have used to care for ourselves and others must now be used to pay our debts. What remains is often only enough to meet our most basic physical needs. Living at the subsistence level, we become depressed, our self-worth is affected, and our relationships with family, friends, neighbors, and the Lord are weakened. We do not have the time, energy, or interest to seek spiritual things.
Robert D. Hales said the following in Conference on Saturday morning. It may be the most important thing said this Conference in light of our present economic situation. His talk is a classic.
Being provident providers, we keep that most basic commandment, “Thou shalt not covet” (Exodus 20:17). Our world is fraught with feelings of entitlement. Some of us feel embarrassed, ashamed, less worthwhile, if our family does not have everything the neighbors have. As a result, we go into debt to buy things we can't afford—and things we do not really need. Whenever we do this, we become poor temporally and spiritually. We give away some of our precious, priceless agency and put ourselves in self-imposed servitude. Money we could have used to care for ourselves and others must now be used to pay our debts. What remains is often only enough to meet our most basic physical needs. Living at the subsistence level, we become depressed, our self-worth is affected, and our relationships with family, friends, neighbors, and the Lord are weakened. We do not have the time, energy, or interest to seek spiritual things.
