The word as used in the New Testament means “more to have”. A person is never satisfied and will spend all they have to obtain some material object or person. As Christians we are taught that whatever we do, we do it in the name of the Lord; that is, for His glory (Col. 3:17). Setting spiritual goals has great value to our souls (Col. 3:1,2). Planning the use of our money and our time likewise has great benefits (James 4:13). Some men then by using good Biblical principles may obtain many of this world’s goods. There is nothing in scripture to condemn such activities.
The danger is that men should not trust in uncertain riches (I Tim. 6:17). One who is victimized by having a heart filled with covetousness, spends their lives always looking for something to make them happy. A new car, a new house and new job or whatever points to one never being satisfied, they always want more. Think of how much the desire for praise cost Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5? How much money had they saved in their lives together? Enough to buy some land (Acts 5:3). When they sold it, they lied about how much they were giving based on the actual amount for the land. Why lie then? The word covet, whether of land, money or a desire for recognition tells us what being covetous is all about.
The solution may come from more than one area. A person who realizes that what he has obtained is all from God (I Peter 4:11). Because it is all from God a second thing is to spend a good deal of time thanking God for what He has given (I Thess. 5:18). If each day we give thanks to God for the very lives we have, there will be little room for desiring more “things”. Why did Achan sin? He had children, courage, a tent to live in and the blessings of being a child of God. What more did he need? In his own mind the Babylonian garment, shekels of silver and a wedge of gold could make him more happy than before he entered Jericho. Covetousness has a terrible price tag.