The Sin of Covetousness

“But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;” Ephesians 5:3

Over the years, we have raised many flocks of chickens. Black ones, red ones, white and brown, but even though they might have been different breeds, they all had one characteristic in common: their “lust” or “covetousness” for food. Maybe not so much their regular corn and chicken feed, but any other kitchen and garden scraps.

Sometimes we might have some food that is starting to get old so we will throw it out to the chickens. As soon as that food hits the ground, every chicken that we have will be there, fighting to get some. If we threw just a single slice of bread to them, one chicken will pick it up and immediately start to run off with it, as all of the others follow in close pursuit. They all want what the other chicken has. Eventually, one chicken will manage to strip away that food from the first chicken, and the entire chase will begin again. 

I realize that they are chickens and that is their nature, but what I am trying to explain here today is that each one of those chickens showed the same quality: covetousness. They each wanted what wasn’t theirs, and it caused them to go and take it from each other.

Covetousness is defined as the immoderate desire for the possession of something.

What is the driving force behind someone who steals something? Covetousness. The desire to have what is not theirs. 

A personal story that I have is back when I was four or five years old. At that time, I had a bunch of action figure toys, superheros and whatnot, and one day while I was at daycare, there was another child there who had an action figure that I had never seen before. It was so cool and I couldn’t stop thinking about it. 

Now, at the daycare, each child had their own “cubby” or place to put their jacket, shoes, and other things. Well, later that day, my parents came to pick me up, and as I was putting on my jacket and shoes, I saw that toy in the other child’s cubby. Maybe you already know what I did. I quickly looked around to see if anyone was looking, and I grabbed that toy and stuffed it into my pocket and left. What I displayed there was covetousness. I wanted something that wasn’t mine, and it caused me to steal it. 

I have used this example before, about how when Mary washed Jesus’ feet, and anointed His head with the ointment, the reaction that Judas had.  

“Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. 

Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, 

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 

This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.” John 12:3-6

Judas didn’t care about the poor, or helping them. He was just a thief who coveted money. That was all that he wanted and loved. What did Jesus betray the Lord for? Money. 

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” 1 Timothy 6:10

Paul, on the other hand, was not concerned with money or possessions. He was not filled with covetousness for other people’s things. In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul wrote “Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not your’s but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.” 2 Corinthians 12:14

It seems like there were some in the church who thought that Paul sought to receive something from them, but he explained to them that he wasn’t seeking their things. He wasn’t banging on a table, demanding that they take care of him. His goal was to help them to grow in their faith, and he did it freely.

Instead of coveting something that we don’t have, we are taught to be content and thankful for the things which we have been given.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5

Don’t be filled with the sin of covetousness, but be filled with a thankful heart towards the Lord for everything that He has given you.  

In Christ,

Andrew