Some Practical Instruction ... On Covetousness

Series – May 2016 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Some Practical Instruction On
COVETOUSNESS

Covetousness is a sin that grows by that on which it feeds. It leads to all sorts of other sins and is the one sin of the heart directly forbidden by the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:17). This is a hidden, secret sin: “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed ... covetousness” (Mk. 7:21-22 KJV ). Applied to money it is “the root of all evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). Never satisfied, it leads to injustice and oppression (Mic. 2:2), and departure from the faith (1 Tim. 6:10). Covetousness is abhorred by God (Ps. 10:3), and being classed with such sins as theft, idolatry and adultery, it excludes from the kingdom of God (1 Cor. 6:10). It is one of the sins of the last days (2 Tim. 3:2; 2 Pet. 2:1-3).

Such is covetousness, and yet so deceitful is this sin that few believers are aware of its dangerous and awful character. In the world it is hardly counted a sin at all. Therefore it is difficult for a worldly Christian to understand how coveting what is another’s is as bad before God as theft or drunkenness. The fact is, only the standard of the Word of God shows us what is sin – a revelation that to some degree the world has profited.

Covetousness Is Theft By The Heart
Writing, however, as we do to those who take the Word and not the world’s code of morality for their standard, we earnestly warn against this sin. But you say, “It is very hard not to covet when I am poor and struggling, and I see others so well off.” This is true, but you must get the victory. By setting your affections on things above you will find you are far richer than those of the world. The positions are reversed: The rich man, discontented with his riches, covets the calm and happy mind of the humble Christian. God has made us so rich that it can be only through ignorance of our wealth or through earthly tastes that we covet at all. This we see in Psalm 73, the whole of which is written to prove this very point.

Examples Of Covetousness
Listen to what the Word of God has to tell us by way of example concerning this sin, carefully observing to what sins it leads. The first sin, the parent of all other sins, was partly due to covetousness. Eve saw the fruit was good for food. She knew it was not for her, but she coveted, took and fell. Covetousness is frequently the result of looking at things that we should not. If we let our eyes drop from Christ to the world we will soon find our poor hearts running after it. Then covetousness and a whole host of other sins will follow.

In Joshua 7:21 we find a fearful instance of covetousness in Achan: “When I saw ... then I coveted ... and took.” It was like Eve, and how terrible in its results – causing not only his own death and that of 36 others, but also the defeat of Israel before their enemies. God could not lead them to victory with a covetous man in their midst! Observe that in both these cases covetousness led to direct disobedience to God. Do any of my readers have hidden sin like Achan’s destroying their happiness, eating away their spiritual life and perhaps injuring and distressing others? Oh, let us judge ourselves that we be not judged by the Lord.

Covetousness Leads To Many Sins
Passing on we notice it was the greed and covetousness of Samuel’s sons, Joel and Abiah, that led the people to demand a king (1 Sam. 8:1-5). This king, Saul, had his crown and kingdom taken from him because of direct disobedience to God, into which he was led by covetousness (1 Sam. 15:9-19). We come later to Ahab who, through covetousness of Naboth’s vineyard, was led to commit judicial murder, as advised by Jezebel (1 Ki. 21). Gehazi’s covetousness led him into a course of lying and deceit, and it brought upon him the fearful plague of leprosy (2 Ki. 5:20-27).

Covetousness was one of the besetting, constantly repeated, sins of Israel: “From the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness” (Jer. 6:13). But let us remember that this covetousness in Israel was not nearly as bad in character as it is among us, for they coveted merely an undue share of what God had given to them all. Their blessings were earthly, and none could blame them for highly esteeming money and property.

The Christian’s possessions are spiritual, but it is a very rare thing for Christians to be striving to get an undue share of these. On the contrary, the object of the covetousness of Christians too often is the world and the things that are in it – things on which they should not set their heart or affections at all. Even less, the Christian should not envy those who possess more than they. What a tale, therefore, it tells of spiritual deadness when a child of God, an heir of glory, is seen to covet the poor riches of earth. I might add that Babylon (Dan. 4:29-30), a type of this world in its prosperity, was full of covetousness.

Turning now to the New Testament we find in the fearful history of Judas that it was covetousness of money that led him to betray his Master. This is a character of sin of which any of us may also be guilty, though of course not in the same way. The Pharisees are branded as covetous, and this sin led them to reject and despise the faithful, searching words, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Lk. 16:13). Covetousness is also the sin of Balaam (2 Pet. 2:15), and those whose hearts are full of covetous practices are said to follow the way of Balaam.

We have thus seen that the effects of covetousness are uniformly bad, that it leads to disobedience to God, rejection of His Word, lying, deceit and murder. None are exempt from this sin.

The Sure Remedy
Therefore to possess the sure remedy for this sin is wonderful! It is found simply in enjoying the possession of so much – the things from above – that we cannot wish for more or even hold what we have. Such a portion is the Christian’s. Were our hearts more true to Christ we would be little troubled with poor, covetous desires. In Him we have more than we could wish and more than our hearts can contain. Hence, if we are really filled with all the fullness of God, what room is there for a covetous thought? Occupation with Christ not only fills us, but it transforms us!

Covetousness is not absent primarily because we are full, but because we have ceased to engage in selfish desire. Instead, we desire what is for Christ’s glory – His interests having taken the place of our own. Christ then is the cure for covetousness, by virtue both of His satisfying and His transforming power. There is no happier person than a Christian who is satisfied with Christ.

By Alfred T. Schofield, (adapted)

Look for the conclusion of this Series next month.