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Covetousness
Covetousness is an insatiable desire for
the material things of the world. A
human being is born with desires. Having
a desire is normal but if there is
excessive desire for material things
then it is abnormal. God does not want
anything to go beyond limits.
What does the Bible say about
covetousness?
The Bible very clearly reveals that God
hates covetousness and covetousness is
compared to Idolatry. Today it is
possible for one to be filled with
covetousness.
Consider the following verses
Romans 1:29 Being filled with
covetousness – it is possible for one to
be filled with Covetousness
How did the
Apostle’s live
1Timothy 2:5 For neither at any time
used we flattering words, as ye know,
nor a cloke of covetousness; God is
witness:
Advise of the
apostle’s
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be
without covetousness; and be content
with such things as ye have: for he hath
said, I will never leave thee, nor
forsake thee.
Why does God hate Coveteousness?
1. Covetousness is very dangerous and
God hates it
It makes one Greedy
Isaiah 56:11
Yea, they are greedy dogs which can
never have enough, and they are
shepherds that cannot understand: they
all look to their own way, every one for
his gain, from his quarter.
Proverb 21:26
He coveteth greedily all the day long
Covetous people are never satisfied.
They want more. As a result they start
going their own way and forget the ways
of God. Covetousness will take you away
from the plan of God.
2. Covetousness results in Oppression
Proverbs 22:16
He that oppresseth the poor to increase
his riches
Micah 2:2
And they covet fields, and take them by
violence; and houses, and take them
away: so they oppress a man and his
house, even a man and his heritage. Here
we find that evil and unlawful acts are
motivated by covetousness. Today the
poor are oppressed, many unjust and
unlawful acts are committed because of
the lust of covetousness in one’s heart.
Covetousness can transform a good man
into a wicked one and change his
conscience from soft to hardhearted.
3. Covetousness results in denial of
Justice
Covetousness results in denial of
justice. It results in perversion of
justice resulting in unjustness
increasing in the earth.
Isaiah 1:23
Thy princes are rebellious, and
companions of thieves: every one loveth
gifts, and followeth after rewards: they
judge not the fatherless, neither doth
the cause of the widow come unto them.
4. Covetousness results in prophets and
priests using the name of the Lord to
further their Own Ends
Micah 3:11
The heads thereof judge for reward, and
the priests thereof teach for hire, and
the prophets thereof divine for money.
Today covetousness has resulted in even
servants of God deviating from the truth
and compromising . Many churches have
started accommodating even those living
sinful lives as members of the clergy
and the gospel instead of being firmly
preached has been diluted to suit the
convenience of a few. All this results
in the name of the Lord being maligned.
5. Covetousness results in defilement of
the human being
Mark 7:22
Thefts, covetousness, wickedness,
deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye,
blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
Mark 7:23
All these evil things come from within,
and defile the man. Jesus Christ very
clearly revealed that covetousness comes
from within and it can defile a man. How
can a defiled one have fellowship with
his creator unless he is cleansed from
his defilement. Covetousness is a
stumbling block in believers growing
spiritually .
The Greatest Danger of Covetousness
1Timothy 6:9
But they that will be rich fall into
temptation and a snare, and into many
foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown
men in destruction and perdition.
1Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is the root of all
evil: which while some coveted after,
they have erred from the faith, and
pierced themselves through with many
sorrows.
The Bible very clearly reveals the
following
Love of money is a result of
covetousness and it is the root of all
evil. It can make you deviate from the
faith. It will result in you piercing
yourself with many sorrows ( not some
but many sorrows ) . A covetous person
is very soon going to pierce himself.
Here the Bible says that by being
covetous you are piercing yourself not
with some but many sorrows. How will
life be once you are pierced. Definitely
it is not going to be smooth . It is
going to be painful and hard. Anyone who
knows the meaning of this verse will
definitely hate covetousness. The Bible
says that if you are covetous you will
fall into a temptation and a snare.
You will also fall into many foolish and
hurtful lusts . These lusts are not
ordinary but have the power to drown men
in destruction and perdition
Covetousness makes you a fool at the end
Jeremiah 17:11
As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and
hatcheth them not; so he that getteth
riches, and not by right, shall leave
them in the midst of his days, and at
his end shall be a fool. Remember that
covetousness makes you a fool in the end
as you are not going to take back
anything which you coveted and for which
you strained your relationship with God.
One should know the fact that "Naked
came I into the world and naked shall I
return back". One enters the world empty
and leaves the world empty. Therefore
let us concentrate more on the things of
God which have their reward when you
leave this world.
Examples of people in the Bible who were
victims of covetousness
1. Balaam
2 Peter 2:15
Which have forsaken the right way, and
are gone astray, following the way of
Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the
wages of unrighteousness; Balaam a great
prophet of God earned the displeasure of
God because of covetousness. His love
for the wages of unrighteouness made him
teach Balak the enemy of God’s people
how to make the people of God to sin.
Balaam’s end was very pathetic. He was
finally killed by the children of Israel
(Numbers 31:8 )
2. Achan
Joshua 7:21
When I saw among the spoils a goodly
Babylonish garment, and two hundred
shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold
of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted
them, and took them; and, behold, they
are hid in the earth in the midst of my
tent, and the silver under it.
Another victim of covetousness was Achan.
As a result he disobeyed God and brought
a curse upon himself and his family. His
people had to suffer an ignominous
defeat against Ai because of his acts .
Finally he and his family were stoned to
death.He never got an opportunity to
dwell in the promised land of which he
also was an heir.
3. Ahab
1 Kings 21:2
And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give
me thy vineyard, that I may have it for
a garden of herbs, because it is near
unto my house: and I will give thee for
it a better vineyard than it; or, if it
seem good to thee, I will give thee the
worth of it in money. Ahab the king
motivated by covetousness and it
resulted in the killing of an innocent
man Naboth resulting in God pronouncing
a curse on Ahab. In 1Kings 21:19 Elijah
proclaimed, Thus saith the LORD, Hast
thou killed, and also taken possession?
And thou shalt speak unto him, saying,
Thus saith the LORD, In the place where
dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall
dogs lick thy blood, even thine. What
terrible punishments, it was all a
result of covetousness
4. Gehazi
2 Kings 5:20
But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the
man of God, said, Behold, my master hath
spared Naaman this Syrian, in not
receiving at his hands that which he
brought: but, as the Lord liveth, I will
run after him, and take somewhat of him.
Covetousness in Gehazi resulted in him
going after Naaman and obtaining from
him something which Elisha had refused.
As a result Elisha pronounced a curse
upon Gehazi and his family
2 Kings 5:27
The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall
cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for
ever. And he went out from his presence
a leper as white as snow. What a
terrible end to a man who was a servant
to a mighty prophet. This is what
covetousness can do to an individual. It
can ruin his future as well as his
families future.
5. Judas iscariot
Matthew 26:15
And said unto them, What will ye give
me, and I will deliver him unto you? And
they covenanted with him for thirty
pieces of silver. Judas betrayed Jesus
because of covetousness. His end was
very tragic. He died a miserable death.
Covetousness is forbidden as per the Law
of Moses
Exodus 20:17
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's
house, thou shalt not covet thy
neighbour's wife, nor his manservant,
nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his
ass, nor any thing that is thy
neighbour's.
Warning given by Jesus
Luke 12:15
Words of Jesus. He warns us to be
careful and be watchful so that you may
not fall into covetousness.
" Take heed, and beware of covetousness"
Warning given by Apostle Paul
1 Corinthians 5:11
But now I have written unto you not to
keep company, if any man that is called
a brother be a fornicator, or covetous,
or an idolater, or a railer, or a
drunkard, or an extortioner; with such
an one no not to eat. Paul advises us
not to keep company, not even to eat
with anyone who is called as a brother
but covetous.
Ephesians 5:3
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or
covetousness, let it not be once named
among you, as becometh saints;
Covetousness is not to be named among
one who is called as a saint.
Colossians 3:5
Mortify therefore your members which are
upon the earth; fornication,
uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil
concupiscence, and covetousness, which
is idolatry:
God considers covetousness as Idolatry
and it has to be put to death
Benefits of hating covetousness
Proverbs 28:16
He that hateth covetousness shall
prolong his days.
Hatred of covetousness prolongeth your
days. The Bible says Hate covetousness.
The one who hates it will never be
pulled or attracted towards the thing
that he hateth. God’s will is that we
should hate covetousness. Such a person
will be free from the covetousness.
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