Coveting That book by Andy Stanley called "How Good Is Good Enough" also had a passage about coveting, which raised a few questions which I then posed to the GTNG group. I asked:

For instance, my best friend has purchased a really nice home
entertainment system. Mine is not that hot. If I decide that I want the
same entertainment system, is that covetous? If I go and buy one just
like his, is that covetous? If I want his actual system and want to take
it out of his home and put it in mine, is that covetous?

One of the members of the group who I rarely agree with pointed out that if wanting what my friend has intereferes with the relationship, that's coveting. Becoming obsessed with getting an equal or better system is a form of idolatry. Another comment along this line was "sin is mostly getting your priorities wrong, putting other things before God and/or other people."

The sermon on the mount was Jesus' own teachings on the 10 commandments (as well as other points) and I often associate the Sermon with turning the commandments around. The commandment says "Thou shalt not kill" but Jesus says we should honor and uphold all life and the dignity of every human being. Paul states that we should be content (I am trying to find the actual quote) and not "Keep up with the Jonses".

I think that "keeping up with the Jonses" is embedded into American Society, and it's a tenet that keeps us apart from God. I admit it's hard to keep God in the front of my mind all day. I need to learn how to abnegate and become a conduit for the Holy Spirit.  ¶ 11:25 AM