Beware of covetousness

BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS… “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15 KJV).

Speaking to the people, he went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot." (The Message) “Then he said, "Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own."

(NLT) In the passage above, Jesus gave a warning about covetousness (defined as an Envious eagerness to possess something or Extreme and insatiable greed for material wealth) to a man who interrupted Him in the middle of His sermon. The man wanted Jesus to settle a dispute between him and his brother.

Evidently their father had died and this son felt he was not getting his fair of the inheritance the father left behind for the children. The inheritance had become an obsession to the man. It consumed him. As he stood in the presence of Jesus Christ and listened to his ageless words, he did not hear the liberating words the Saviour had been speaking.

There is danger in wanting more and more things (clothes, money, houses, degrees and all kinds of awards), or in wanting what belongs to another. The apostle Paul called this intense, inordinate desire “idolatry” (Col. 3:5). That’s a very strong language indeed.

To buttress his disapproval of covetousness, Jesus told his disciples a parable of the rich fool. Now, some might think that Christ is against saving for the raining days or having a backup plans to preserve excess provisions, but that is not so. We must not forget that his same Jesus instructed His disciples to “Gather up the fragments that remains, that nothing be lost” during the feeding of the five thousand in John 6:12.

And didn’t the same Christ advocate careful planning when He asked: “For which of you intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and count the cost, whether he has sufficient material to build it?”

(Luke 14:28).

From the foregoing, we can safely conclude that Jesus is not against saving for the raining day, or having a backup plan, but He is clearly against “laying up treasures for oneself at the expense of being rich towards God. (Luke 12:21). Covetousness according to Jesus is not just the desire to have what does not belong to you, but a desire to have and to hold what belongs to you, but which you don’t need today. Covetousness is a quiet desire to possess today all that tomorrow will need. Covetousness is a desire to keep something that is not actually a necessity today, for next year. Covetousness is a desire to possess tomorrow, today.

So, it is now evident that covetousness is a problem of the mind and thought patterns. Whatever disposition is outwardly manifested is first conceived in the mind. “For from within, out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts-adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile the man (Mark 7:21-23).

Therefore, we can safely conclude that it is impossible for a natural man not to be covetous. Because it is inborn. It is part of the sinful nature we inherit at birth and trying to overcome it by will power is an exercise in futility. The arms of the flesh will fail always.

The Evil Of Covetousness.

“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” 1 Tim 6:10 What sins will men not be drawn to by the love of money? Particularly this was at the bottom of the apostasy of many from the faith of Christ; while they coveted money, they erred from the faith, they quitted their Christianity, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. What is the root of all evil?

The love of money: people may have money, and yet not love it; but, if they love it inordinately, it will push them on to all evil. Covetous persons will compromise righteous principles of the Word of God and even quit the faith, if that be the way to get money The grip of covetous nature is so strong on some people to the extent that they would be running even after things they have no immediate use for. Some are so bound by greed to the extent that they can lie, kill and maim others to acquire what they are coveting.

If this covetousness is limited to sinners it would have been understandable, but numerous believers are today bound in the claws of covetousness. Even preachers are not left out. The reason behind many shady and dubious business is covetousness. Cheating and rigged scales in stores and market places are also traceable to covetousness. Covetousness is the motive behind stealing and embezzling of public funds by employees and public office holders. It’s also the reason why employers of labour and corrupt leaders deny people of their wages. Is it not because of money and material possession that many women chose to be living in adultery with their bosses at work? At the root of prostitution is the desire to get rich quick.

Covetousness is also the reason behind commercializing of the grace and the gifts of God for money among many preachers of today. Preachers are now sending hired assassins to themselves because of money. “Prophets” now prophesy lies and falsehood because of the gain of unrighteousness.

Covetousness… Of a truth, “Those that will be rich” (that set their hearts upon the wealth of this world, and are resolved whether right or wrong, they will have it), “fall into temptation and a snare.” “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” If I were you, I will envy nobody for whatever reason.

Danger Of Covetousness “What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion.” Jude 11.

“Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness, and his upper rooms by injustice, who makes his neighbor serve him for nothing and does not give him his wages.” Jer 22:13.

“Like a partridge that hatches eggs she has not laid, so are those who get their wealth by unjust means.

At midlife they will lose their riches; in the end, they will become poor old fools.” Jer 17:11 “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36.

Beloved pilgrim on the narrow road to the Heavenly Jerusalem, as we approach the end of the end times, it behooves us as God’s children to take heed to our Master’s warning. We must beware of covetousness.

It is a creeping evil that stealthily take his captives into bondage. Whenever we are gripped by the inordinate desire to acquire somethings, it is necessary to pause and ask ourselves:  Do I really need this?  Must I have it now?  Is there no alternatives to this?  I hope someone won’t be hurt by my acquisition of this?

 Will this glorify God?  Is this God’s will for me now?

These pointers will help us to get over the inordinate greed to acquire more and more things (even when we don’t need them).

In extreme cases, we may need to pray and ask God for help to overcome covetousness. And to the unconverted, you need to accept the love of Jesus and get converted to overcome covetousness.

Summarily, Jesus says the good life has nothing to do with being wealthy, so beware of covetousness (greedy desire for what we don’t have). This is the exact opposite of what the society and even some socalled churches usually say. Advertisers spend millions of dollars to entice us to think that if we buy more and more of their products, we will be happier, more in tune, more comfortable. How do you respond to the constant pressure to buy? Learn to tune out expensive enticements and concentrate on the truly good life-living in a relationship with God and doing His work. Jesus challenges us to think beyond earthbound goals to use what we have been given for God’s Kingdom. Faith, service, and obedience are the way to get rich with God. I call you blessed.

Pastor Busari Olawale Peter is the Senior Pastor of My Father’s House, situated at Adebisi lay out, NNPC, Apata, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. You can reach him on 08115961610.