Today, I'm filling in for Pastor Manoj, and I want to thank him for seeing something in me that I don't see myself, as it takes a lot of prayer for an introverted person like me to come up here. I'm not here to preach, but rather to ask us all to think about a topic that is often not preached about in church: covetousness.
What is Covetousness?
The Greek word for covetousness is "Pleonexia". It's a sinful desire for what belongs to another person. It has been described as ruthless and self-seeking, a desire for something a man has no right to have. This desire is insatiable, like trying to fill a bowl with a hole in it, and it will never be satisfied. The sin of covetousness has a wide range. For example, a desire for prestige can lead to evil ambition , a desire for power can lead to sadistic tyranny , and a desire for a person can lead to sexual sin.
Biblical Stories of Covetousness
I want to look at a few stories from the Bible to see what it says about covetousness and its effects.
The Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21): A man in the crowd asks Jesus to tell his brother to divide their inheritance with him. Jesus responds, "Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?". This man's request was not in alignment with what Christ was sent to do, as Jesus was not here for physical things but for the spiritual. Jesus came to preach the gospel and command all mankind to repent so their souls can be saved. The man in the parable constantly uses the pronoun "I" and only cares about himself. The warning Jesus gives, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance, in the abundance of his possession" (Luke 12:15) , applies to us today.
The Story of Achan (Joshua 7): After the Israelites brought down the walls of Jericho, a man named Achan came upon some items in the rubble. God had given a commandment in Joshua 6:17-19 that the city and everything in it was to be accursed to the Lord, and that no one should take of the accursed thing. Achan confessed, "When I saw among the spoils... I then coveted them, and took them" (Joshua 7:21). Because of his sin, Achan, his family, and all their possessions were burned with fire. His willful disobedience brought a curse upon himself, his family, and the entire camp, causing 36 men to die. The Lord says that our sin will find us out, and he sees even our secret sins.
The Story of Naboth's Vineyard (1 Kings 21): Naboth had a vineyard next to the palace of King Ahab. King Ahab wanted it for a garden, but Naboth refused to give away his family's inheritance, as it was forbidden by Old Testament law. Jezebel, the king's wife, forged a letter in Ahab's name and sent it to the elders, telling them to hire two men to bear false witness against Naboth. Naboth was then stoned to death, and Jezebel told Ahab to take possession of the vineyard. Here we see how covetousness led to lying, false witness, and ultimately, murder.
Combating Covetousness
There is a cure for covetousness.
Store up Treasures in Heaven: Matthew 6:19-21 says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also". We are to be a blessing to others by giving to the poor and to the church.
Be Content: Contentment is another way to combat covetousness. The apostle Paul said in Philippians 4:11-13, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances... I can do all this through him who gives me strength".
Love: The most excellent way to combat covetousness is with love. Romans 13:8-10 says, "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law... for this, 'You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,' and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law". When a person truly loves their neighbor, they won't covet their spouse, their house, or anything that belongs to them. Love is the ultimate combatant of covetousness, and it is the fulfillment of the law