COVETOUSNESS!

COVETOUSNESS!

Ex 20:17

17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

          Covetousness, as described by McClintock and Strong, is “a grasping temper.” It is a desire to increase possessions often at the expense of another. It is the cousin of “thou shalt not steal.” The person who covets is captured by his own discontent and will never be content with just a bit more. It caused the Israelites, who feasted on manna, to long for meat. So God gave them quail in such abundance that it “came out their nose.” (Numbers 11:31-34)

          Achan caused the defeat of Israel’s army because disobeyed the Lord and took some of the enemy’s stuff and hid it under his tent floor (Joshua 7). In one of the more curious acts of covetousness, Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11) lost their lives by longing to have a piece of land that was owned … by themselves!

          Covetousness is an addiction. It is a craving that can never be satisfied for the moment it gains what it longs for it begins immediately to long for something else. An addict will beg for a gift and turn and curse you for not giving more. Some have suggested that the commandment, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house" (Ex 20:17), meant to the Israelite that he should not take anything of his neighbor's possessions that were momentarily unprotected by their owner.

          Preaching against covetousness is lacking in modern Christianity. Much of what passes for preaching is little more than a confirmation of grasping greediness as smiling leaders tell us that we can have it all and that we should enjoy our best life now. Avarice has captured the pastors and the church is held hostage.

Heb 13:5

5 Let your conversation [your character and moral disposition] be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Dear Lord, keep me free from being dissatisfied with your supplies so that I do not fret against you. AMEN