LENTEN SEASON DIGEST Day 12 TOPIC: COVETOUSNESS TEXT: ACTS 5:1-10 INTRODUCTION COVETOUSNESS: To covet is to desire eagerly (especially something that belongs to somebody else). It is excessively and culpably desirous of the possessions of another. Simply put, it is having a strong urge to obtain or possess something especially material wealth, in quantity. It is synonymous to greed and grasping. Covetousness is the effect of not been contented. It is looking into Gods face and saying for all you have given me, it is nothing or not enough. Greed has many faces but it speaks one language: the language of more. Epicurus noted. Nothing is enough for the man whom enough is too little. Covetousness is to the rich as stealing is to the poor. The Lord issued 21 commands concerning covetousness. It is wrong to covet your neighbour’s house, wife, servants, animals, land or anything else belonging to him - (Exo 20:15, Deut 5:21). Moreso it is unlawful to covet anything that belongs to God (Ex 22:29-30). Covetousness is the Love of Things and Pleasure. Most people nowadays will do just about anything to get money. This is exactly what God is saying in 1Tim. 6:10 – “It’s the love of money that is so evil.” What is the love of money? Money is just paper with ink on it, so we know that money in itself isnt evil. Rather, its what money can do--it buys us things and pleasure! So the Word of God is actually warning that the love of THINGS AND PLEASURE is the root of all evil - this is covetousness. We read in 2Thess 2:12, That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. We are commanded in the Word of God NOT to love this world ... Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. God has blessed mankind with the privilege of enjoying the pleasures and things of this world; BUT, He sets divine limits and establishes moral Laws for us to obey. Greed and covetousness are the sins which cause us to cross those moral lines. As Christians, we are commanded NOT to be covetous of this world, Let your conversation be without covetousness... (Heb 13:5). Its a disturbing paradox! … Covetousness is the ROOT of all other sins; yet, it is not recognized for the villain it is, and few preachers preach against it. Most people today dont think they are covetous. Very few people recognize what covetousness is. Balaam became covetous, and led Israel into fornication and idolatry because of it. Jude 1:11 states: Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. Covetousness is the root of all sin, and we are warned in the Word of God to be CONTENT with food and raiment, And having food and raiment let us be therewith content (1Tim 6:8). Can you imagine a Nigerian being happy with just food and clothes to wear? What about the TV and the DVD player? What about the new car and the deluxe automatic dishwasher? We are so spoiled in Nigeria that we havent a clue as to just how wicked we have become as a people because of this sin. So many people are mad at God because they cant keep up with flamboyant or luxurious lifestyles; but the Word of God says you are fortunate to have food to eat, and clothes to keep you warm. Let us be diligent to guard against unholy desires, and selfish appetites, which lead to temptation and sin. COVETOUSNESS IS A WAR AGAINST THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST WITHIN US. THE SIGNS OF COVETOUSNESS: (1) Not preferring God (our everlasting happiness) before the prosperity and pleasure of the flesh; but valuing and loving fleshly prosperity above its worth. (Rom. 13:14; Matt. 6:19; 1 Tim. 3:8; Phil 3:19; Ezek. 33:31; Jer. 9:23.) (2) Esteeming and loving the creatures of God as provision for the flesh, and not to further us in the service of God. (3). Desiring more than is needful or useful to further us in our duty. (4) An inordinate eagerness in our desires after earthly things. (5) When our speech is freer and sweeter about prosperity in the world, than about the concernments of God and our souls. (6) When we are more careful to provide a worldly than a heavenly portion, for children and friends. COVETOUSNESS EXEMPLIFIED David (2 Sam 11:2-5); Ahab (1 King 21: 2-16); Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-3); Eve (Gen 3:6);Lot (Gen 13:10-13);Jacob (Gen 25:31;27:6-29);Balaam (2Pet 2:18);Achan (Josh 7:21); Gehazi (2Kings 5:20-27);Rich fool (Luke 12:17);Judas (Matt 26:15-16);Pharisees(Luk 16:14);Simon Magus (Acts8:18-23);Festus(Acts 24:2);Demas (2 Tim4:10). EFFECTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF COVETOUSNESS breeds greed and murder (Prov 1:19, Jer 22:17); breeds poverty and rebellion (Prov 11:24); oppression and violence (Proverbs 22:16,Mic 2:2); backsliding (Mic 3:11); injustice (Isa 1:23;Mic7:31); Deception (Matt 13:22); Defilements (Mk 7:21-23); temptation and lusts (1Tim 6:9-11,1 Jn 2:15:17); denial of God (Proverbs 30:8-9); a short life and a fools end (Jer 17:11;Luk 12:16-21); leads to insensitivity to the needs of others. (Prov 18:23); leads to spiritual destruction (1 Tim 6:9); the covetous cannot enter Gods kingdom. (1 Cor 6:10; Eph 5:5); leads to many sorrows (1Tim 6:10; James 5:1). CONCLUSION AND ADMONITION Covetousness is a sin from the heart bringing damnation (Romans 1:29:32). It is the sign of the last days (2Tim 3:2).Little wonder Jesus uses the safety-word BEWARE to address it. Take heed and beware of covetousness: for a mans life consists not in the abundance of the things which he posesseth Luke 12:25. Institutions like EFCC, ICPC, etc, were established to serve as watchdogs to the nations treasury against officials who loot public funds. Truly a corrupt-free society is a prosperous nation. (Proverbs 14:34). Remember how short a time you must keep and enjoy the wealth which you have gotten. How quickly you must be stripped of all! Can you keep it when you have it? (1 Cor. 7:31.) Can you make a covenant with death, that it shall not call away your soul! Stay often with those that are sick and dying, and mark what all their riches will do for them, and what esteem they have then of the world; and mark how it uses all at last. Then you shall see that it forsakes all men in the hour of their greatest necessity and distress; (Jer. 17:11; Jam. 5:1-3.). Look much on the life of Christ on earth, and see how strangely He condemned worldliness by His example. Did He choose to be a prince or lord, or to have great possessions, lands, or money, or sumptuous buildings, or gallant attendance, and plentiful provisions? His housing you may read of: Matt. 8:20; Luke 9:58, Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. His clothing you may read of at His crucifixion, when they parted it. As for money, He was fain to send Peter to a fish for some to pay their tribute. If Christ did scrape and care for riches, then so do you: if He thought it the happiest life, think so too. But if He contemned it, do you contemn it: if His whole life was directed to give you the most perfect example of the contempt of all the prosperity of this world, then learn of His example, if you take Him for thy Saviour, and if you love yourself. Though He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might be rich, 2 Cor. 8:9. I conclude with Heb. 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. Remember! those who are covetous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor 5:10-11, Eph 5:5).
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 06:20:30 +0000
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