Hello, My Name is Covetousness

Covetousness is sneaky. Do you know him? Do you know what he looks like? If you do not know who he is he may already be living in your heart causing upheaval in all areas of your life. Covetousness will certainly destroy a heart of thanksgiving and replace it with discontentment. In Romans 7:7-12, Paul tells us that covetousness is always wanting to seize an opportunity to destroy us. God really is concerned about us being friends with covetousness. God dislikes covetousness so much that He wants us to put him to death (Col. 3:5). God is so serious about us killing covetousness He made it one of His Ten Commandments (Ex. 20:17). The New Testament tells us that “covetousness should not even be named among us” as followers of Christ (Ephesians 5:3). We are not to associate with those who are covetous (1 Cor. 5:9-11) and that the wrath of God comes upon those who are filled with covetousness (Rom. 1:18-31). Covetousness is a bad dude.

So, what is covetousness? Covetousness is simply your heart desiring something else, or someone else so much that you lose your contentment in God. Covetousness then becomes idolatry as it moves your contentment, love and joy for God to contentment, love and joy for something or someone else which will always let you down. Covetousness does not rest; it will always want more from your heart. It will make your heart desire more and more, well beyond what you will ever need. It has an unquenchable desire to get more and more just for the sake of having it. Covetousness will never be satisfied and it will lie to you that if you just get more you will finally be content.

The great news is that the Tenth Commandment, “You shall not covet,” is not to rob of you of happiness and make you miserable but to actually make your life abounding in joyfulness and contentment and freedom. Your loving Heavenly Father will always give you exactly what you need at the very moment you need it. God has already promised you a place in eternity, which means that He has also promised you everything that you need on this earth in this life. The God of eternity has given you His perfect eternal grace so that you can kill covetousness and live with an eternal mindset.

Be vigilant church. Where has covetousness ceased an opportunity in your heart? What or who do you desire more than God? Where do you seek contentment and value from other than God? Do you satisfy your need for joy and contentment in other places other than God?

As we live and breath in a highly covetous culture, especially this time of year, let us remember the words of Jesus in Luke 12:15, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."


See you Sunday, content in Christ, Steve