And they are shepherds who have no understanding; Each one to his unjust gain, to the last one. The story of Gehazi is one which deals with the sin of covetousness or greed. 3:7-13). Not one of us can say we escape this sin. The moral and spiritual flaws in his character that one senses in the previous record have surfaced. 57 Earl Radmacher, You and Your Thoughts: The Power of Right Thinking, Tyndale House, Wheaton, 1977, pp. We would go through life confused and bewildered. That is why this sin is so sneaky and requires us to always search our hearts to make sure we are not falling victim to it. These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'covetous.' (6) Paul teaches us in Romans 7:7-8 that it was the Old Testament commandment, Thou shall not covet, which made him aware of his own sinfulness. Then, in verses 21-25 we see his conduct--deception and defection. (James 4:1-3). My wife and I have an 8-year-old daughter and like most kids her age, she enjoys watching shows that are appropriate for her age. Salem Media Group. 2:15; 1 Pet 2:2, desire earnestly; 2 Pet. Thats why checking your heart is so important and please dont make the mistake of believing you could never fall victim to this. Avoiding certain situations where we know were weak and will be tempted to covet. Do you think, good for her? Or do you think, woe is me? Do you sincerely think things like, aww, shes going to be so cute driving in that, and thank goodness, her old car was falling apartnow shes safe! Or do you start to compare your vehicle to her new one and begin to fight insecurity over how you look from the drivers seat? 3 Keys to Keeping Communication Open with Your Teenager, 4 Books Your Teenage Daughter Should Read This Summer, 8 of the Hardest Things Grandparents Face, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. When were more concerned with what we can give and how we can bless others, we ourselves are blessed in return with peace, contentment, and joygifts that retail therapy and prestige simply cant provide. Your rulers are rebelsAnd companions of thieves;Everyone loves a bribeAnd chases after rewards.They do not defend the orphan,Nor does the widows plea come before them. When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and deposited them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. He will. It was covetousness. But in the story of Gehazi we see the specific sin of greed (covetousness and materialism) and the way it destroys the ministries of men and their capacity to serve the Lord. For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness. Covetous definition: A covetous person has a strong desire to possess something, especially something that. ), reputation, power, recognition, as well as for money and possessions and pleasure. (cf. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him. So Gehazi pursued Naaman. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. Freedom does not consist in doing what I want to do; but in doing what I ought to do and as I was designed to do it by the strength which God gives. When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him and said, Is all well? He said, All is well. To save this word, you'll need to log in. "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". covetousness meaning: 1. a strong wish to have something, especially something that belongs to someone else: 2. a strong. (5) In fact, it was the first sin. We must remember the secret of happiness thats found in the Gospel: But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33), This doesnt mean that when we seek to follow the Lord, well suddenly be showered with an assortment of designer shoes and an expensive line of makeup products. Gods desire is that you would be content and walk securely in the life he has given you. By the way, who are the Jones anyway, where do they live, and why did we try to keep up with them in the first place? Especially in a consumer-oriented society, we dont tend to labor according to our need, but according to our greed. They saw His works. . Consequently, it seems to me that any genuinely dynamic Christian life will be the outgrowth of a dynamic Christian attitude, shaped and locked into our thinking by the Word of God. (1) Covetousness is one of the most devastating sins man commits, one which is the root of most of our sins. covetous, greedy, acquisitive, grasping, avaricious mean having or showing a strong desire for especially material possessions. Ecclesiastes 5:10. Perhaps it did, because we still see him referred to as Gehazi, the servant of the man of God in 2 Kings 8:4-5. Consider this verse. In what are we seeking our significance, security, satisfaction or contentment? If you remember one of the definitions of covetous is an inordinate desire to get wealth. Nor does the widows plea come before them. It was hard not to feel less than or believe there was something wrong with us because we werent in the same position with the same things. Coveting a neighbor's wife is a form of adultery ( Exod 20:17 ). While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? Lets get practical for a moment. I would even go so far as to say in the social media-driven world we live in today, covetousness is even easier to indulge in and more prevalent than ever before. Covetous Sentence Examples. Lets face it, if the treasure of my heart is money, or any of the other lusts patterns, then I will be serving myself and not God regardless of how I may appear on the outside. When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him and said, Is all well?, He said, All is well. . Elisha had refused to receive anything from Naaman when he was healed for specific biblical and spiritual reasons. We figured this financial situation would resolve itself in a few months, but the Lord had other plans. Colossians 5:5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. While the words, he can do it for me are coming out of our mouth, what could be in our hearts is, they got theirs, Im going to get mine just wait and see. When this happens then covetousness has just taken over. There is a sense in which we are growing in our character every day. He wanted to sit on Gods throne and be worshipped in the same way that God was. Gehazi was full of greed, not faith. Oh, the blindness and hardness that greed can bring on our hearts. . Following are some of the uses: (1) To gain dishonestly (batsa`), e.g. In Colossians 3:5 it is "idolatry," while in 1Corinthians 6:10 it is set forth as excluding a man from heaven. His master knew all that had transpired! When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and deposited them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him. Look for her latestnovel with HarperCollins, LOVE ARRIVES IN PIECES, and POCKET PRAYERS FOR FRIENDS with Max Lucado. Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden because it is close beside my house, and I will give you a better vineyard than it in its place; if you like, I will give you the price of it in money.. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. Paul reminded the Ephesians that greed or covetousness is equated with immorality and impurity, so that these must be put away ( 5:3 ). For usage information, please read the Baker Book House Copyright Statement. Nglish: Translation of covetous for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of covetous for Arabic Speakers. Eve saw what she couldnt have. 10 Ways You're Hurting the Relationship with Your Adult Children (Without Knowing It), 10 Secular Movies That Teach Christian Values. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. The Bible not only gives us portraits of Gods grace, as with the healing of Naaman, but it also gives us striking, clear, and up-front portraits of mans sinfulness and perversion. Presumably he had forwarded nothing. 2023. Our want is the door through which we enter into satisfaction in God. My master has sent me, saying, Behold, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. As Paul shared his priorities and motives in ministry, he also talked about what didn't motivate him in ministry namely financial gain.In First Thessalonians 2:5, he wrote, "For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of . Reminding ourselves daily via a written gratitude list that were not lacking and that we have more than we deserve already. But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed. Here is where the danger comes in. Interestingly, the Greek words for covetousness or greed come from pleon, more plus ecw, to have. It refers to one desirous of having more. Or do you simply notice their car/purse/outfit, like theyre a walking advertisement for what you want? 6:24). covetousness: 1 n reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth (personified as one of the deadly sins) Synonyms: avarice , avaritia , greed , rapacity Type of: deadly sin , mortal sin an unpardonable sin entailing a total loss of grace n extreme greed for material wealth Synonyms: avarice , avariciousness , cupidity Type of: . Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.. thought, Behold . On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, You shall not covet. 8 But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. Covetousness, of course, can be a quiet sin. 24 When he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and deposited them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed. . Its not worth it! We become more and more callused and insensitive to Gods Word and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. . Let us genuinely ask God to show us the truth about our hearts, our thinking, our values, and our priorities. . The Works Of The Flesh. The way you overcome covetousness is with contentment. I was a manager at the airport rental car company and one of the perks was a company car. The love of money refers to the sin of covetousness. You have not lied to men but to God.. Today, after 2,000 years of hearing this idea promoted by various churches it doesn't sound as revolutionary as it once did. Ask the Lord to reveal your weaknesses in this area and change your heart. Part of the dynamic behind the temptation that Gehazi faced stemmed from his attitude. It was one of the first sins that broke out after Israel had entered into the promised land (Achan, Jos 7); and also in the early Christian church immediately after its founding (Ananias and Sapphira, Ac 5); hence, so many warnings against it. Those who accept bribes are coveting, leading to murder ( Eze 22:12 ). Self-Centredness. . (3) An inordinate love of money philarguros, the King James Version Luke 16:14; 2Timothy 3:2; philarguria, 1Timothy 6:10; negative in Hebrews 13:5, the King James Version. That whole keeping up with the Joneses mentality is such a deception. (2) Opportunity and privilege must be pursued diligently. Is the Forever and Ever Amen Prayer in the Bible? Do you want to go deeper in your walk with the Lord but cant seem to overcome the stuff that keeps getting in the way? Radmacher writes: An attitude is a mental and neural state of readiness, organized through experience, exerting a directive or dynamic influence upon the individuals response to all objects and situations with which it is related. An attitude, therefore, is a state of mind toward a value. He said Beware and be on your guard against every form of greed for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions. (emphasis mine), Contentment is one of the most distinguishing traits of the godly person, because a godly person has his heart focused on good rather than on possessions or position or power. A careful reading of the Old Testament will reveal the fact that a very great part of the Jewish law--such as its enactments and regulations regarding duties toward the poor, toward servants; concerning gleaning, usury, pledges, gold and silver taken during war--was introduced and intended to counteract the spirit of covetousness. He writes: Many Christians have a simplistic concept of temptation that goes something like this: Satan, at a particular moment, flits to our side and whispers Do it, and we either do or do not, depending upon our spiritual strength at that moment. Gehazi deceived Naaman in order to satisfy his desire for gold and silver because of what he thought it would give--happiness, security, significance. 4. a strong wish to have something, especially something that belongs to someone else: Covetousness is condemned as a great sin. Then when lust has conceived, it bringeth forth sin . According to this Scripture, coveting can easily lead to other sins, such as theft, idolatry, and adultery. We do not fall in a moment; the predisposition to yield to sin has been forming, building, germinating--but not necessarily consciously so. greedy stresses lack of restraint and often of discrimination in desire. Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. If you remember, the Lord gave us a double warning in Luke 12:15 regarding greed and discontent with whatever God brings into our lives by way of possessions or our place in society. Many Christian have access to all they need for growth and fruitfulness--the Word, solid teaching ministries, the Holy Spirit, etc., but they fail to make use of those resources. 28. Our lives, like Gehazis, will be misdirected, disloyal, and a disaster from Gods viewpoint. 3. We know the law and what our hearts are prone to, and its up to us to fight with the Word and bring our wayward hearts under submission to Christ. These twenty years I have been in your house; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock, and you changed my wages ten times. Covetousness Sentence Examples He was ordained by order of Belisarius while Silverius was still alive; his elevation was due to Theodora, who, . 27:6). Covetousness, therefore, is basic to the commandments against murder, adultery, stealing, and lying. Acts 20:32-35 at the time this teaching of Jesus took conventional wisdom and turned it upside down. Covetousness definition: Immoderate desire for the possession of something, especially for wealth . Please note the contrast with Elisha in verses 25-27. To let Gehazi get by with this would be a disservice and a lack of true love and faithfulness. It is the type of sports car that excites lustful covetousness. You can end up in financial ruin. Betsyhas a B.A. . Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? This realization took me a while to come to because it was subtle. He has also just released his new book The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. I dont know about you, but thats not anything I want to be associated with. 14 How blessed is the man who fears always, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. . Rather than confess his duplicity, Gehazi, in a continued downward spiral, lied which only worsened the situation. And Peter responded to her, Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price? And she said, Yes, that was the price. Then Peter said to her, Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? But this is mirage which can never be fulfilled and which always escapes us, for only God can give us true happiness and meaning in life. But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Aramean, by not receiving from his hands what he brought. (5) The principle of our thought patterns. I asked God to give me all things so I can enjoy life. ' (Romans 7:7). It is considered to be a very grievous offense in Scripture. He was a slave to barns and grain, and seems to have had no interest in God. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: pleonexia 2 Tim. And any faulty, unproductive Christian life will be the outgrowth of attitudes shaped and locked into our thinking by an unholy world system. As lust, it is often a legitimate desire carried to the point of idolatry which worships the thing lusted for. 5:19) but it hardens the soul (Heb. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. The disciples were with the Lord. However, that wasnt the case. We can even take our covetousness and wrap it in spiritual language. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Self-Centredness. 59 Bridges, p. 105 quoting William Hendriksen, Commentary on I & II Timothy and Titus, London: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1959, p. 198. Covetousness definition, eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth or possessions:Social media so often encourages us to compare ourselves to others, inspiring covetousness and insecurity. Luke 12:15; 1Thessalonians 2:5. Once you get past that, then you will be able to enjoy all the blessings that God has given you. I know churches dont do this much anymore, but during this time someone would get up and share about something God did in their life. ), status (how important am I? We might add, when our vision is double, we are unable to lay up treasurers in heaven. This understudy to Elisha who had known such privileged opportunities was banished in disgrace, for he had abused his favored opportunities in an attempt to acquire the details of life for himself. In one story, leprosy portrays sin in its universal scope as it falls upon all men. But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property. 20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Aramean, by not receiving from his hands what he brought. 25 But he went in and stood before his master. When you appreciate what you have, regardless of how much it is, and you find satisfaction in those things, this will help squash the covetous desire in your heart. If you think about it, what was the thing that gripped Satan's heart before he fell?. Are we growing in love or selfishness; in harshness or patience; in greed or generosity; in honesty or dishonesty; in purity or impurity? At least now Gehazi could see the nature of his sin and turn back to God in repentance. You can begin to despise Gods blessings in your own life. His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice. Why Is the Sin of Covetousness So Dangerous? Has a variety of shades of meaning determined largely by the nature of the particular word used, or the context, or both. He needed to sell his house in a nearby city, while we rented a house in the city where we live and work now. You must recognize that covetousness is the type of sin that hides in your heart and no one else can see. Augustus was a covetous, cruel and superstitious man, but these qualities were redeemed by his political caution and his wise methods of government. Copyright 2023, iBelieve.com. They heard His words. 19 Bible Verses about Covetousness, Example Of Genesis 31:41 Verse Concepts These twenty years I have been in your house; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock, and you changed my wages ten times. Can you tell the "sommeliers" from the "spelunkers"? The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him. 4:7; Heb. . 2. Synonyms for COVETOUS: greedy, desirous, avaricious, eager, acquisitive, mercenary, coveting, grasping; Antonyms of COVETOUS: generous, handsome, charitable, liberal . She resides in north Louisianawith her newlywed hubby, two story-telling young daughters, acollection of Austen novels, and an impressive stash ofPickle Pringles. I wasnt lacking in their abundance. Covetousness. The subtlety of this is seen in the false motives that can drive a person in ministry. . Nice try, but it's not enough. Betsy, 15 Unique Ways to Celebrate Dad This Fathers Day, 5 Reasons Why You Can't "Fix" Another Person. When she's not composing her next bookor trying to prove unicorns are real,Betsycanusually be found somewhere in the vicinity of awhite-chocolate mocha. The NASB has . In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts20:33-35). (Most of the time.). Whatever it was they were giving God praise for what he had done in their life. It frees us to make the right choices, it changes our vision of who we are as sojourners, of why we are here (servants), and it enables us to look at our life in a new way with biblical purposes. However, in the day and age we live in it is necessary for us to know why the sin of covetousness is so dangerous. Rather he seeks to show us first the greater value of heavenly treasure and the folly of seeking earthly. If God made it a commandment and addressed the issue, then it should be a reminder that we have this potential living inside of us to fall victim to this sin. 70-71. thefts, covetous desires, wickedness, deceit, arrogance, an evil eye, evil speaking, pride, foolishness; Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club. Thus they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. Jesus didnt say. 12:14-17). Then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. You will become a victim of covetousness. Covetousness has its root in discontent, i.e. Another contrast to be observed is the change seen in Naaman. Sure, he believed it intellectually, but practically speaking he was acting as though God was dead or at least unconcerned and uninvolved with his personal life. Achan admitted to coveting a robe and silver and gold, so he stole them, which was a sin against the Lord ( Jos 7:20-22 ). Learn a new word every day. Example Sentences The expensive car drew many covetous looks. He was a fool for letting his crops fill his horizon and determine his lifestyle. 1 Timothy 6:6-8. Coveting, a sin inextricably tied to our want, is a corruption of what was created in us to be the mechanism that draws us to the Lord. I know someone who is a pastor looking to grow his church. Divided allegiance is closely associated with our next principle. Then he warns us of the seductive power of riches, the love which draws our hearts away from him and renders us incapable of serving him. When you are covetous you are not enjoying the life God has given and if you cannot enjoy the life he has given you then you cannot enjoy anything else he has given you either. His basic spiritual insensitivity had betrayed him in the time of testing so that rather than his character being refined, his work was refused.63. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, 'You shall not covet. "I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. But Gehazi . Consequently, a further product, as seen with Gehazi and Judas, is unfaithfulness, rationalization, criticism of others, and religiosity. What happens when we the adults in the room fall victim to what is known as covetousness? When Naaman saw one running after him, he came down from the chariot to meet him and said, Is all well?. There was no real fear of God in his heart as the Almighty who truly lived, the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent God who knew his every thought, motive, and goal. Regarding faithfulness there is such a thing as a fair-weather friend. ), appearance (how do I look? Lets release our grip on the detail of life and live for eternity while making the most of this life within the will of God, resting in his care. That the law is sin? 2 2 Should Christians Care about Protecting the Environment? Blind loyalty is actually unfaithfulness. Learn to appreciate the one God has given you because you will enjoy life a whole lot more. As long as were in this fallen world, we will struggle with jealousy and coveting. In the deluded belief that things can give security, satisfaction, and significance, it also hardens the soul. While this may be cute and understandable in an 8-year-old child, what happens when this same mindset seeps into the heart of an adult? . This book will teach you how to put the pieces together so you can live a victorious Christian life and finally become the man or woman of God that you truly desire to be. Likewise many sit in a Bible-teaching ministry; they hear the Word taught Sunday after Sunday, but because of their own self-centered desires and commitments, they never allow the Word to get in. Growth is progressive and we never arrive. Visit her athttp://www.betsystamant.com./. Exodus 18:21 - Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: Also, you dont know what they had to go through to get what they got or how they acquired it in the first place. Can Loved Ones in Heaven Look Down on You? We must take advantage of the opportunities God gives us or we loose the blessings and impact of those opportunities. 10 Powerful Prayers to Pray for the Church, Amazing Children's Choir Sings 'I Can Only Imagine', How to Find Biblical Joy When You Think Youve Failed As a Parent, A Powerful Morning Prayer to Start Each Day, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 60 White, The Cost of Commitment, pp. But God tells us in Scripture that if we have food, raiment and shelter, we are to be content (1 Tim. See more. Plagued with a sense of guilt and alienation and never sure where we were going.55. Here is a simple question. She wanted it and took it. and the custom of the priests with the people. When I was younger, (I sound like an old man but Im not) I used to drive a brand-new car every day and change it out every few days. "In effect, they were slapping God's face by saying; 'It's not enough, God. By Webster's definition, covetousness is "greedy, acquisitive, graspingshowing a strong desire especially for material possessions." I don't know about you, but that's not anything I want to be associated with. Repeated actions (conduct) reveal our inner character and the thought processes (mental attitude) that produced it. But Proverbs 17:17 says, A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.. 1. . 6:15f with 8:4f). You shall not covet your neighbors house. Hampton wrote many articles for the Biblical Studies Foundation and on More. And the fact that everyone falls into it in one way or another and the fact that theft is the commonest item in the criminal calendar in no way disproves that people really do know it to be a sin. The thrust of Jesus teaching does not deal with the virtues of poverty or the sin of riches. 6:8; Prov. (2) Covetousness is at the core of most of the misery that exists in the human race. Finally he upbraids us with the unbelief which underlies our anxiety about our material needs.64. It assumes sometimes the more aggravated form of avarice, which is the mark of cold-hearted worldliness. Its never a pretty picture, but it is a necessary one if we are to see our sickness and helplessness and turn in repentance to the grace of God. This does not mean you dont strive for more or to do better but dont let your motivation be that I am doing this because I want to get more. And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. May it never be! Why would we ever hold our stories against theirs and expect to be in the same place? As my daughter watches this at some point inevitably she will say, Daddy, I want that or Daddy, can we go there? In her innocence, she was desiring what she saw someone else had. departure from the faith (1Timothy 6:9,10); lying (2Kings 5:22-25); theft (Joshua 7:21); domestic trouble (Proverbs 15:27); murder (Ezekiel 22:12); indeed, it leads to "many foolish and hurtful lusts" (1Timothy 6:9). Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Examples of Covetousness: A person who constantly desires to have the latest and most expensive electronic gadgets, even if they don't need them. They are often nothing more than legitimate desires pursued to the point of idolatry; seeking from the things we desire what we ought to seek only from God. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothes. 23 And Naaman said, Be pleased to take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes, and gave them to two of his servants; and they carried them before him. The word discipline which Paul uses in 1 Timothy 4:7 is the Greek gumnazw meaning train, exercise, discipline. It literally means to exercise or train stripped down or naked. I consulted with myself and contended with the nobles and the rulers and said to them, You are exacting usury, each from his brother! Therefore, I held a great assembly against them. When youre out and about seeing people at the mall or the gas station, what do you see? (2) When we become unhappy, miserable, angry, bitter, envious, jealous, or critical of others who have what I want. 61 NIV Bible Commentary, electronic media. Is it a time to receive money and to receive clothes and olive groves and vineyards and sheep and oxen and male and female servants? Then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. Here are three subtle signs of covetousness that often sneak up on us and how to fight them with the Sword of the Spirit the Word of God. You can despise Gods blessings because you are only interested in the next set of blessings and not thankful for the ones you already have. Mark 6:52). Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? Examples of covetousness: Achan ( Joshua 7 ); Saul ( 1 Samuel 15:9, 19 ); Judas ( Matthew 26:14, 15 ); Ananias and Sapphira ( Acts 5:1-11 ); Balaam ( 2 Peter 2:15 with Jude 1:11 ). To say this was draining on our finances was an understatement. Theres a reason for that, sister.). one aggressive bargain hunter rushed to make a covetous grab for the last marked-down TV Recent Examples on the Web In a typical dispatch for The Church Times, about St. Matthew, Mr. Blythe wrote: Not for us covetous desires and inordinate love of riches. Regression is slow and subtle and deceptive. He possesses inner resources which furnish riches far beyond that which earth can offer.59, Gehazi became a slave to his lust patterns because he was not content with what God was doing in his life. It causes men to lie, steal, defraud, murder, commit adultery or fornication, and all kinds of evil, especially the neglect of spiritual values and priorities. Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Think about it for a moment. Their mood, expression, and conversation? Torn perpetually in two directions, we could never see clearly the issues confronting us. 1 as in jealousy a painful awareness of another's possessions or advantages and a desire to have them too his covetousness for his neighbors' things spoils any enjoyment he might have of his own possessions Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance jealousy hatred resentment envy enviousness invidiousness malice enmity animosity green-eyed monster said, but this expresses not what he said with his lips, but what was going on in his mind. If you go back to the Old Testament this was addressed in the ten commandments. He felt it was only just that Elisha accept something. You promised to be all I need, but You're just not meeting my expectations.'". Contrariwise Gehazi, who had enjoyed all the privileges of his masters grace, was about to abuse them and fall from that favor.61, Our souls are held by what they hold; Slaves still are slaves in chains of gold; To what ever we may cling, We make it a Soul chaining thing; Whether it be a life, or land, And dear as our right eye or hand.62. But what are lusts patterns generally speaking? (Doesnt something in your spirit take a deep breath at that possibility? Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. To learn more about his ministry please visit clarencehaynes.com. The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. What futile irony! They are like a barrel in the midst of the sea with both ends tightly sealed. And so goes the mind with its rationalizations when greed is controlling the mind. Lets learn to thank God in every situation and in every circumstance. One of the problems with that is you can end up never satisfied with how much you have. As a servant of Elisha, he was also a student of Elisha. But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wifes full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles feet. We must remember the secret of happiness that's found in the Gospel: O you who dwell by many waters,Abundant in treasures,Your end has come,The measure of your end. If we do not want our lives to end up like Gehazis, we must look at our treasures--those things to which we cling and which have us chained as slaves--and cast them off by making our great goal in life the glory of God and treasures in heaven. 5 Examples Of Carnality. Rather, it means our hearts will shift, and well desire kingdom-minded things instead of couture. Why? . Joshua 7:21 Verse Concepts The Christian businessman has to make a profit to stay in business, but he should never use his business as a vehicle to merchandise people. Its heinousness, doubtless, is accounted for by its being in a very real sense the root of so many other forms of sin, e.g. Accordingly, Elisha announced Gehazis punishment: Since Gehazi had compromised the truth of the free nature of Gods grace, Naamans leprosy would become Gehazis judgment or discipline undoubtedly designed to bring about his repentance. . And Elisha said to him, Where have you been, Gehazi? And he said, Your servant went nowhere. 26 Then he said to him, Did not my heart go with you, when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Scripture warns us about the devastating consequences of covetousness in 1 Timothy 6:6-12 and 17-19. He uses the right words, words he had often heard Elisha say, but their spiritual reality were far from his heart. This kind of thinking is not only contrary to Gods grace, but has its roots in the attitudes of the world. We must recognize our sin and confess and renounce it . You can end up never satisfied. (8) The principle of rationalization. When this sin grabs hold of you it can create in you an insatiable desire to get stuff or to have the things that other people have. Were all too familiar with that knot that forms in our stomach when our co-worker gets the promotion we wanted, our or best friend gets the new guys attention, or our family member is awarded a large sum of money. Greed (or avarice) is an uncontrolled longing for increase in the acquisition or use of material gain (be it food, money, land, or animate/inanimate possessions); or social value, such as status, or power.Greed has been identified as undesirable throughout known human history because it creates behavior-conflict between personal and social goals. Where and in what is my system of values? Divided allegiance quickly stifles submission to God for, No one can serve two masters, . Bibliography Information Orr, James, M.A., D.D. But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land?read more.While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? a strong desire after the possession of worldly things ( Colossians 3:5 ; Ephesians 5:5 ; Hebrews 13:5 ; 1 Timothy 6:9 1 Timothy 6:10 ; Matthew 6:20 ). This might mean: At the end of the day, coveting is always born from a heart fearing scarcity. 14. For those listening this was supposed to be a time of encouragement giving you hope to believe if he did it for them he can do it for me. Freedom is an inner contentment with what you have. Strong desire to have that which belongs to another. 62 Arthur S. Booth Clibborn, There Is No Gain.. When we pray with selfish motive for selfish gain, the Lord is typically going to say no. (Unless he grants us what we want to teach a lesson, much like the prodigal son who ventured off, only to come back broke and humble.) Its much less stressful to live from a posture of giving rather than receiving. The name has been taken to mean " covetous ." (3) The principle of our treasures. The 2 Peter 2:14 passage is very instructive to our study of Gehazi and the problem of greed. In the story of Gehazi we see the process and consequences of greed or covetousness which always hinders godliness and godly service. Doing that can have the same devastating consequences where you can begin to despise your own spouse, you are never satisfied with them, and you make your life and theirs miserable. There is plenty of water all around, but nothing gets in. 1:4-5; 1 Tim. Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, coveted the property of Naaman so much that he lied to get what he wanted from Naaman the leper ( 2 Ki 5:19-25 ) and was struck with leprosy. Indeed, this is a truth that should apply to all of life since all our so-called secular work should be viewed as opportunities to minister to people. This sin can catch you, grip you, and many times overtake you without you being aware. (Sorry I digressed for a moment, lets get back on track.) Most people labor in order to have more and more for themselves, and in their pursuit for the so-called good life they not only ignore their responsibilities to be good stewards of Gods grace, but often step on others in their scramble up the ladder of success. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy (Prov. Basic and legitimate desires become covetousness when they are uncontrolled and cause us to do the following: (1) To neglect biblical priorities, ignore the Lord and His will, His leading and His provision, or to ignore the responsibility of pursuing heavenly treasures and biblical priorities, goals, commands, and principles. It is the picture of religious hypocrisy, of failure to progress spiritually, of false values that destroy a mans pursuit of righteousness, of human rationalization that seeks to find good reasons for a bad thing, of rebellion and insubordination to authority, of unfaithfulness or disloyalty, and of the process of regression or the downward spiral of sin (chain sinning). You desire and do not have, so you murder. He then attempted to sneak back to Elishas house unnoticed--only to be confronted by the prophet himself. For from the least of them even to the greatest of them,Everyone is greedy for gain,And from the prophet even to the priestEveryone deals falsely. Send us feedback about these examples. Proud member (6) The principle of divided allegiance. The more you recognize, enjoy, and are thankful for what God has blessed you with, the more you will enjoy life. When we realize that we have everything we need in Christ, were able to slay the green-eyed monster of jealousy. Philippians 4:11-12, But godliness with contentment is great gain. What does such a commitment and mental attitude do for us? (4) The principle of regression. J. Hampton Keathley III, Th.M. I didnt own the car, but I could drive it like I did and get a new one every few days. He was not a man without opportunities. Rom. The question is in which direction are we growing? Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothes.read more.Naaman said, Be pleased to take two talents. And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags with two changes of clothes and gave them to two of his servants; and they carried them before him. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. But here we see Gehazi struck with leprosy because he turned away from God to blur the truth of the free nature of salvation. the King James Version Exodus 18:21; Ezekiel 33:31. - p. Compare Ephesians 4:22 (lusts of deceit) with 17-19 (note the words excluded, callous, and given over to sensuality) and Heb. Its as simple as that. Not only does it grieve and quench the Spirit of God (Eph. The explosion cost our nation seven of our astronauts, one of whom was a school teacher, who was planning to teach from space. . Jesus listed covetousness or greed along with many of the sins from within, including adultery, theft, and murder, which make a person unclean ( Mr 7:22 ). He is so consumed with getting his church to grow and move to the next level that he has missed and has no appreciation for where he is now. (7) The principle of freedom and contentment. Thus covetousness is the root of all kinds of sins, so that Jesus gave the warning, "Be on your guard against all kinds of greed" ( Luke 12:15 ). All rights reserved. How ironic! 22 And he said, All is well. By Websters definition, covetousness is greedy, acquisitive, graspingshowing a strong desire especially for material possessions.. He knew our struggle between money, love and heavenly treasure. I realized I could rejoice with them for owning a beautiful home where we could fellowship together! A neighbor passing by inquired, Whats the matter, Abe? He who had been a fallen, hopeless sinner displayed the true believers grace. forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; New American Standard Bible Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. When 'thingamajig' and 'thingamabob' just won't do, A simple way to keep them apart. The key note implied here is that it is a process which must be continued or we will lose ground. If he really believed in the aliveness of God, he would have thought again about the motives and reasoning of his heart. He is the author ofThe Pursuit of Purpose which will help you understand how God leads you into his will. I have spoken primarily about things and possessions, but God also mentions being covetous of other peoples spouses. We ended up living for a year and a half with the equivalent of two mortgages. He was as phony as a lead nickel, but he gave the appearance of being a disciple, even caring for the poor. But notice the conclusions we have reached. But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? One almost never hears the old-fashioned bible words " covet " or " covetousness " any more. Gehazis statement, As the Lord lives, I will run after him . General Editor. These portraits in Scripture serve as instructions and warnings to turn us to God and a life of godliness and away from a life of ungodliness (cf. We will deceive ourselves and defect, selling the Lord short in some manner. As William Hendriksen has observed so well, The truly godly person is not interested in becoming rich. As the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him. 21 So Gehazi pursued Naaman. and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wifes full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles feet. After all he had raided and stolen from the Jews time and again. The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him. Are we growing toward godly character or ungodly character? When you can be content with little or content with a lot, there is no room for covetousness because your heart is filled with thanksgiving and appreciation for what you do have. Proverbs warns that a covetous person brings trouble to his family ( 15:27 ). He had the privilege of knowing this great man of God. When you do, you will be able to avoid this sin of covetousness which can be so dangerous. Unbridled Sexual Desires. But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, thought, Behold, my master has spared this Naaman the Aramean, by not receiving from his hands what he brought. grasping adds to covetous and greedy an implication of selfishness and often suggests unfair or ruthless means. A person who hoards possessions or money, and is unwilling to share or give to others. with her newlywed hubby, two story-telling young daughters, acollection of Austen novels, and an impressive stash ofPickle Pringles. Furthermore, covetousness blinds. The tenth commandment forbids coveting anything that belongs to a neighbor, including his house, his wife, his servants, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to him ( Exod 20:17 ). Let covetousness surface, and it will override any principle. He had the example of Elishas life and the message of his lips as a tremendous source of instruction, challenge, learning, and motivation for godliness and a life of service. The words of James support such a view: Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. A Herredag, or Assembly of Nobles, was held at Copenhagen on the 2nd of July 1530, ostensibly to mediate between the two conflicting confessions, but the king, from policy, and the nobility, from covetousness of the estates of the prelates, made no attempt to prevent the excesses of the Protestant rabble, openly encouraged by Tausen. We demonstrate God has our heart when we trust him by being sincerely generous with what he has given us. Examples of Covetousness. have different life stories and different circumstances. It leads us to believe that we can be . Rationalization is seen in Gehazis statement, Behold, my master has spared this Naaman . Here is a simple truth about life. Covetousness has always been a very serious menace to mankind, whether in the Old Testament or New Testament period. The ultimate or root cause of covetousness, therefore, is our failure to pursue godliness and the Lord as our secret source of joy, meaning, stability for life and security (Phil 3:7f; 4:10-13; Matt 6:33; 1 Tim 6:6-12). James warns that people kill and covet because they cannot have what they want ( 4:2 ). It is an oriental habit of mind from of old that when anyone sees abandoned goods which he thinks desirable, there is not the least objection to taking them, and Exodus 20:17 b is probably an explanation of what is to be understood by "house" in Exodus 20:17 a. Achan (Joshua 7); Saul (1Samuel 15:9,19); Judas (Matthew 26:14,15); Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11); Balaam (2Peter 2:15 with Jude 1:11). In verse 20, Gehazi is described as the servant of Elisha. Further, he even refers to Elisha as my master, all of which is tremendously suggestive of one of the key issues in the sin and failure of Gehazi and in all of us today to some degree. Give thanks in all circumstances;for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus. 4:30; 1 Thess. 56 Jerry Bridges, The Practice of Godliness, NavPress, Colorado, Springs, 1983, p. 83. Surely what was true of Paul is true of us all. covetous implies inordinate desire often for another's possessions. All rights reserved. And the dogs are greedy, they are not satisfied. Like lust, it's hidden behind the veil of our flesh. The first sin, the parent of all other sins, was partly due to covetousness. My master has sent me, saying, Behold, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Two key passages stress this as a warning to us: Luke 12:15 And He said to them, Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.. We bring God into our plans, and prayers, and act as though we are trusting him and following his guidance, which we completely ignore through our greedy rationalizations. It means to covet only heavenly treasure.60. "What then shall we say? . is a classic illustration of mere external religiosity. From verse 20, it appears he was thinking that because they did something for Naaman, he owed them. Covetousness is a discontent with what we have and an intense desire for something else, something we believe will make us happy or satisfied. As the, So Gehazi pursued Naaman. And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Maybe it was a healing, a new job, a restored relationship, or a financial blessing. And we reject the plain truth of Scripture with its principles and promises. Only the true and faithful friend--one full of faith in the precepts of Scripture--will care enough about truth, Gods glory, and what is best for all concerned to do what is right whether it is pleasant or not and whether it is understood by others or not. This is one of the most basic principles of the Christian life. Is this not the fabric of life when it is lived independently of God? And Peter responded to her, Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price? And she said, Yes, that was the price., Then Peter said to her, Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Core of the Bible podcast #46 - The antidote against covetousness. Just being around the Word and godly examples never guarantee the communication of biblical truth, spiritual growth, and personal godliness. 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