Beware of Covetousness
Study Text: Luke 12: 13 - 21
Introduction:
- A man interrupted Jesus in His sermon with the matters of inheritance and his brother, rather than listening to the sermon.
- Jesus said to this man, “A man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth”. Yet we act as though the greatest good on earth consists in adding to our possessions.
- The happiest man is not the one who possesses the most, but the man who lives to please God and shares with others the good things God has entrusted to him.
- No one will ever be saved who is living just for self. He must come to the place where, being convicted of sin, he turns from it and puts his trust in Christ alone for salvation.
- We all do well to heed this warning: “Take heed, and beware of covetousness”. To ‘Beware’ as used in the scripture, is to be cautious or to take heed of an impending danger.
- Covetousness is a sin that greatly displeases God, yet it easily ensnares many Christians today (Hebrews 12:1).
- Covetousness can manifest itself in love of money, desire for power or gain, or indecent crave for food and drink, sex or other material things.
- We shall be discussing the topic under three subheadings:
1. The Description of Covetousness
2. The Dangers of Covetousness
3. The Deliverance from Covetousness
1. The Description of Covetousness
- Covetousness can be described as an envious eagerness to possess something or extreme and insatiable greed for material wealth.
- 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” Colossians 3:5
- Covetousness is “laying up treasures for oneself at the expense of being rich towards God. Luke 12:21.
- Covetousness is a quiet desire to possess today all that tomorrow will need. It is a desire to keep something that is not actually a necessity today, for next year.
- There are some things which we have a right to desire. Wanting things is not necessarily wrong. A desire for things, which is limited to the will of God for you, is not sinful, but all other desires are evil. God made you to desire things, but that desire must always fall within His will.
- The cause of covetousness is a selfish heart, which leads to a selfish motivation. Covetousness makes us unaware of our greed. It prevents us from having feelings of deep concern for God’s will and for other people. It blinds us to our own selfishness.
- The man in the parable gathered so much for himself, without living for God, and died unexpectedly. That was the end of this covetous man’s life, but it was not the end of his existence.
- He went into eternity to meet the God whom he ignored, the God who showered mercy upon him all his life, but who never received any appreciation from him.
- He went into eternity to face the Lord Jesus whom he had never recognized. He had been so busy laying up treasures for himself on earth that he made no provision for eternity.
- Whatever our wealth may be, we are not truly rich if we do not know Jesus Christ as our Saviour. If we do not have Christ we are miserably poor.
- After we have trusted Christ we are warned against laying up treasures for ourselves on earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.
- Instead we are told to Lay up our treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal (Matthew 6:19-20).
- Even Christians are in danger of this spirit of covetousness. Happy is he who, instead of laying up treasures on earth, is sending treasure on ahead to be enjoyed in heaven.
2. The Dangers of Covetousness
- 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 or to become wealthy.
- The grip of covetousness is so strong on some people to the extent that they would be running even after things they have no immediate use for.
- 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 in life and ministry is covetousness.
- Covetousness is also the reason behind commercializing of the grace and the gifts of God for money among many preachers of today.
- It is because of the dangerousness of covetousness that Jesus gives the stern warning to beware and guide against it in our lives. What are some of these dangers:
1. It is the Root Cause for Many Sins
- Covetousness is very dangerous because it gives birth to many other sins. It is covetousness that was described as the love of money, which is the root of all evil.
- The covetous will not value the life of people, and will do all sorts of evil and destructive things to those who stand on his way of getting what he wants.
2. It Destroys People's Reputation and Integrity
- It affects ones character negatively. It is associated with pride, unfaithfulness, lust, backsliding, rejecting God’s will and insensitivity to the needs of others.
- It causes us to make decisions that are harmful to those who are close to us. We usually covet in the area where we compare ourselves with others which leads to unnecessary competition.
3. It Hinders Godly Fellowship and Disqualifies in Godly Service
- It should have no place in the church, and believers are not to keep fellowship with such a person. Ephesian 5:3-5, 1 Corinthians 5:11, 1 Timothy 6:5.
- It should have no place in the heart of Church Workers, Ministers and would-be leaders. 1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:5.
4. It can lead to untimely Death
- The covetous shortens his days. The insatiable quest for pleasure, power, position and other things can lead to several evil deeds that may bounce back, and can cause health challenges leading to death. Proverb 28:16.
5. It will Lead to Disapproval by God and Loss of Eternity in Heaven
- The Bible described the sin of covetousness as idolatry, and there will be no place for such people in Heaven. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
3. The Deliverance from Covetousness
- God can deliver us from the obsessive behaviour of covetousness. How? There are several things He can help us to do in overcoming this sin.
1. Be Thankful Always For What You Have
- If Christ is all we have, that is enough. Be thankful for all He has done for you and in your life. Start with your salvation, and if you have never trusted Christ as you Saviour, you can do that today.
- Think also of your family and friends. Consider how God has given us so much. Think of all you have had and know that God will provide what you need.
- The truth is that to have ambition is not a sin, in fact we need it to excel, but when it comes without gratitude for what God has given and when it comes without regard to our responsibility to others we are in danger of allowing covetousness to take over in our lives.
2. Be Peaceful Always In What You Have
- Hebrews 13:5 says, "Let your conduct be without covetousness, and be content with what you have." Even if you have nothing materially, but have Christ, you are rich indeed.
3. Be Helpful Always With What You Have
- If we will learn to be helpful, we can light the world with the love of Jesus and get all that God has planned for us at the same time!
- It is critical that all Christians must have proper attitude towards money and possessions so as to be free from the grip of lust, greed and covetousness. Some of the following right attitude will help:
1. Focusing on Godliness with Contentment
- Pursuing the live of godliness at all time and being contented with what you have at any point in time is a major weapon against covetousness. 1 Timothy 6:6-8.
2. Having the Kingdom of God as the Highest Priority in Life.
- Not seeking prosperity, power, position and popularity as the primary goal, but the Kingdom of God and its righteousness. Matthew 6:19, 6: 33.
3. Cultivating the Habit of Giving Selflessly and Sacrificially
- The Bible recommends that we should not trust in uncertain riches, and to be ready to distribute to others.
- Giving generously to the poor and for God’s work without ulterior motives will fortify the believer against the hold of covetousness. 1 Tim. 6:10-17
4. Exercising Control Over your Affections and Desire
- Let the word of God be your guide in determining what is right and acceptable unto God, and shun deliberately whatever is pleasurable, but displeasing to God.
- Set your desires and affections on things above, the glorious inheritance and mansion reserved for you in heaven, and not on the pleasurable things on earth that can not last forever. Colossians 3:1-3.
- The following realizations and wisdom will help the believer in maintaining the right attitude discussed above, and to enjoy freedom over covetousness and the dangers that associate with it:
1. The wisdom of storing up our treasure in heaven and not on earth
2. The believe in the fact that God has already given us everything we really need pertaining to life and godliness.
3. The brevity of this earthly life. Only what is done for Christ and His Kingdom will last.
4. The fact that earthly riches become useless at death. We brought nothing to this world, and we cannot carry anything from there.
5. Considerations of all the perils, dangers and warnings associated with riches as instructed by the word of God.
Conclusion:
- Money and possessions are not evil, they are evil when they take the place of God in our lives. James 1: 17.
- If we know the seriousness, danger and peril of the sin of covetousness we would take bold and decisive steps to deal with it. Beloved, watch out, and beware of covetousness.
