COVETOUSNESS
In
our wealthy and materialistic society, Christians often tend to trivialize
covetousness, but Paul calls it idolatry, and lists it as one of a number of
sins that are bringing the wrath of God “upon the sons of disobedience”
(Colossians 3:5-6). Concerning the love (or coveting) of money, Paul told
Timothy that it was a “root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). John was
speaking of covetousness when he wrote, “Do not love the world or the things in
the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1
John 2:15). “Do not be deceived,” Paul wrote to the church at Corinth. No
covetous person “will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
Jim
Elliff and Daryl Wingerd
Restoring Those Who Fall, Christian
Communicators, 2006, p. 12, www.CCWtoday.org. Used by Permission.
Covetousness
is therefore, a sin with a very wide range. If it is the desire for money, it
leads to theft. If it is the desire for
prestige, it leads to evil ambition. If it is the desire for power, it leads to
sadistic tyranny. If it is the desire for a person, it leads to sexual sin.
A ship may be
overladen with silver, even unto sinking, and yet
space enough be left to hold ten times more. So a covetous man, though he have
enough to sink him, yet never hath he enough to satisfy him…a circle cannot
fill a triangle, so neither can the whole world the heart of man; a man may as
easily fill a chest with grace, as the heart with gold.
John Trapp
A Puritan Golden Treasury,
compiled by I.D.E. Thomas, by permission of Banner of Truth, Carlisle, PA. 2000, p. 67.
It is
commonly said that covetousness is one of the reigning sins of old age. How
strange that it should be so! Especially considering what they have seen, and
known, and it may be, felt of the emptiness and uncertainty of riches.
They have witnessed how often they make themselves wings. What! And not yet
convinced! What! Almost at the end of thy journey, and yet loading thyself with
thick clay! Think of the time of day. It is almost night; even sun-set. And art
thou unmindful of the grave? The body is bending downwards, let the heart be
upwards.
Philip Henry
A Puritan Golden Treasury,
compiled by I.D.E. Thomas, by permission of Banner of Truth, Carlisle, PA. 2000, p. 69.
The antidote
for covetousness is contentment. The two are in opposition. Whereas the
covetous, greedy person worships himself, the contented person worships God.
Contentment comes from trusting God.
John MacArthur
Covetousness
– the evil desire for something belonging to another – is one of the most
deeply rooted emotions in the human heart. The Apostle Paul, who as a Pharisee
could speak of his faultless outward observance of God’s Law (Philippians 3:6),
is finally exposed as a sinner by the command, “You shall not covet” (see
Romans 7:7-8). He could refrain from stealing but he could not of himself
refrain from coveting.
Jerry Bridges
Trusting God, 1988, p. 64. Used by permission of NavPress – www.navpress.com. All rights reserved.
Covetousness
is styled “the lust of the eye,” (1 Jn. 2:16); that is, an inward inordinate
desire arising from the sight of such and such a thing, (Josh. 7:21). Many
things may be seen which are not desired, but if desired, and that
inordinately, there is covetousness.
William Gouge
Of Rules to Find Out Covetousness,
sec. 57.
If upon the
obtaining of the first desire, a man remain
unsatisfied, and his desire be more and more enlarged, he hath a covetous
heart.
William Gouge
Of Rules to Find Out Covetousness,
sec. 57.
If having
more would make us happy, we would never need the Tenth Commandment. It is
written for unhappy people!
Ray
Pritchard
Keep Believing Ministries, The Sin No One Will Admit, http://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/1992-08-16-The-Sin-No-One-Will-Admit.
Coveting is
nothing more or less than an attempt to improve upon God. The covetous man
moans and groans because he believes that he has been treated unfairly. When
all the goodies were passed out, he got nothing but crumbs... The covetous man
doubts God’s wisdom, God’s goodness, God’s justice, God’s timing and ultimately
God’s love. Coveting is a terrible sin because it is a surreptitious attack on
God Himself. Those who covet are saying, “God, you haven’t taken care of me.”
They are blaming God for His failure to meet their needs.
Ray
Pritchard
Keep Believing Ministries, The Sin No One Will Admit, http://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/1992-08-16-The-Sin-No-One-Will-Admit.
You can’t be content and
covet at the same time.
Ray
Pritchard
Keep Believing Ministries, The Sin No One Will Admit, http://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/1992-08-16-The-Sin-No-One-Will-Admit.
[How to Overcome Coveting]:
1. Guard your heart. This means pay attention to your desires.
2. Become a great giver... How do you overcome a covetous spirit? You give your
way out of it.
3. Ask God to give you a grateful heart.
4. Refocus your life on Jesus Christ. Nothing human can cure covetousness; only
an infusion of the supernatural power of Christ can make a lasting
difference... Nothing will expel a coveting spirit except the power of a
brand-new affection – a new love for Jesus Christ (Mt. 6:33).
Ray
Pritchard
Keep Believing Ministries, The Sin No One Will Admit, http://www.keepbelieving.com/sermon/1992-08-16-The-Sin-No-One-Will-Admit.