“You shall not covet your neighbour’s house; you shall not covet your neighbour’s wife, or his male servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbour’s.” (Exodus 20:17)
There’s nothing wrong with longing for something, but if our desire is focused on what belongs to another, or if envy is part of the longing, God rejects it. Longing for something that someone else possesses often has its roots in dissatisfaction with what God has given us.
The tenth commandment says that you may not covet anything that someone else has. It is much broader that simply the possessions of our modern society. It speaks for example of your neighbour’s wife (note the emphasis as it is the first in a list), and includes his ox, his donkey and even his slaves. In Bible times, these were indications of prosperity and property.
Coveting often leads to envy. This prompts you to sin against the tenth commandment.
The tenth commandment touches on the essence of violating the first nine commandments. It requires some self-reflection: what motivates you? Jesus challenges you: “Seek first the Kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33). That goes contrary to our sinful desires. But this gives you freedom from covetous desires and dissatisfaction.
God gave us His Son, and in Him we receive all that we could possibly need. Don’t get caught up in the materialism of our modern society which is constantly chasing the latest trend. Free yourself by focusing your desires on God’s Kingdom.