Beware Of Covetousness

Focus: Luke 12:15 – KJV 15. And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 

1 Timothy 6:6-11

Covetousness is said to be the feeling of having a strong desire for the things that other people have. Or how do we describe the quest for amassing more than one can put to use per time? It is the lust to acquire things not needed perhaps to show off or make one feel important. There are those who lived before, acquired so much but left the bulk in the midst of their days for those who had no relevance to them ordinarily, taking their acquisition over to squander. When a man puts his heart to wisdom, he will discover that this life is not necessarily about the abundance of the things we amass to ourselves but so much about the impact we have over the lives of those we come across. Imagine some individuals, particularly in Africa, ambushing the wealth of the majority of the people, to stack it away for themselves, while observing the people who are rightfully entitled to it, live in squalor. How such people are able to sleep, one wonders. No! We speak not just of the people in government or the civil service, but also of their civilian collaborators. 

The Lord has given us examples of people like them in the days of scripture. Anyone who puts wealth together without using it to impact the lives of the needy is just ungrateful to God like the rich young ruler. In the end, even though his barns were filled with plenty, it was of no use to his soul which was required of him, prematurely. Think of Nabal: not only did he lose his life, all that he acquired and his wife became the possession of the one he refused to share with. How about the rich man that detested Lazarus? He got to the great beyond before realizing what befell him for his covetousness. Let us not be like any of these bad examples. Rather, let us learn from their error and start using whatever we have to glorify God in the lives of those who do not have. Let us desist from taking those things to which we are not entitled, so that the provision may spread to many and if possible, all. But why do we think the Lord directed Israel to take only the portion they could finish per household and not more, out of the manna? Taking more than necessary tend to wickedness against others. It is borne of greed which is simply wicked.

From this day on, the Lord will supply all that we need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus in Jesus’ name. As He does, He will give us the heart to care and share with others in Jesus’ name. In every way we had been wicked and ungrateful by not sharing in the past, may the Lord by His mercy forgive us and hold such deeds not against us like He did against the rich man in Lazarus’ case, in Jesus’ name. As we continue through life, the Lord will so keep us and make us givers even as the hands of the giver is always on top, to keep our hands on top, in Jesus’ name. The Lord will open our eyes to good wealth like He did the Israelis when they were to depart Egypt and Jacob when he was leaving Laban, in Jesus’ name. Above all, may our lives be meaningful and impactful, in Jesus’ name.

SOLUTION: Never take more than necessary to yourself with a view to depriving others. Be purposeful about taking the needy out of squalor or real need.

If you are blessed by this post, kindly share with your contacts, as well as others, that they may be blessed also. Thank you and may God bless you abundantly as you do so, in Jesus’ name.