Combatting Covetousness With God’s Wisdom

Show Notes

“And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Covetousness doesn’t get enough pulpit time these days. Pastors would do well to preach more about this sin that infects today’s society. Rob talks about how you combat covetousness with God’s wisdom.

• First a definition - Covetousness is a sinful desire for things. It’s often confused with envy, which is actually directed toward another person and leads to covetousness when you want what they have.
• We make this distinction because the Bible makes it — by giving covetousness a SPECIAL place — forbidding it in the 10th Commandment.
• Envy is bad; it’s a sin, but covetousness is even more dangerous to your soul.
• Paul answers why in Colossians 3:5 - “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
• When you covet something, you make it an idol, putting it BEFORE God. This points back to the first two commandments. “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me."
• Followed by, “You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation.”
• Now you see the danger. Covetousness is an emotion that drives idolatry and it’s nothing short of a plague in today’s society. Through the media and advertising, we’re bombarded daily with images of things, many of which we can’t afford — a bigger house, a newer car, or a skiing vacation in Vail.
• Covetousness is sometimes called “the mother of sin” because it leads to so many others, like greed, envy, hate and even murder. And there are special warnings when money itself becomes an idol.
• Jesus says in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
• In 1 Timothy 6:10, Paul writes, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”
• God gave the sin of covetousness a special place in the 10 Commandments because He had to. As Paul relates in Romans 7 that without the law, he wouldn’t have known that he was covetous. That’s because our sin nature prevents us from seeing our greed, lust and materialism.
• How do you know if you’ve fallen victim to covetousness?
• First, by praying that God would reveal this sin in your heart. James 1:5 tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
• Second, by searching God’s Word for the truth about covetousness and how it may be affecting your life. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 reads, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
• Third, by asking yourself some difficult questions and answering them HONESTLY. Does God hold preeminence in your life? Have you placed other gods before him? You would never worship a golden calf, but what about your favorite sports team, or your TV, or even your spouse or children? Have you placed those things before God?
• Have you sought after earthly things instead of the Kingdom of Heaven? Jesus says in Matthew 6:10, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” 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.”
• So, pray for wisdom, study God’s Word, and guard your heart— that’s how you combat covetousness. But as you do those things, keep in mind that money and possessions themselves are not evil. It’s not a sin to have wealth, nor is it more holy to be poor. It’s only when we put possessions above the God that gives them to us …  that we fall into the trap of covetousness.

• Since it's often recommended to have 3-6 months living expenses as a personal emergency fund, what is recommended for an organization like a church?
• If you're a 2nd-career-minister, you don't have children so you're not looking to leave an inheritance for anyone, how should you essentially efficiently distribute your assets to yourself?
• Is it still a good time to buy I Bonds?
• Can you use a self-directed IRA to invest in real estate?
• If you're 30 years old, don't have much savings yet, have an emergency fund in place, just started a retirement plan with matching, how do you get started in saving for your future?

External Links:

• ECFA, Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability
• Open an I-Bond