Micah 2:2 spoke against greed in coveting fields and seizing them defrauding people of theirs homes and inheritance. There are a number of stories of fights among family members over inheritance. It can lead to external hatred and warfare too. Saul coveted the Amalekites' livestock in 1 Sam 15:9,19, and it appears Saul did not even realize he was coveting in 1 Sam 15:20-23.Ĭovetousness can lead to internal warfare inside you in Jms 4:1-2. As we did this for everyone in the class, there was a lot of hesitation before being able to say the second sentence. Each one was supposed to say "I want to sit in that chair." Then they were supposed to say to the other, "You can sit in that chair." The first one to say the second sentence was the winner. Two children would stand next to a chair. Once I was a substitute teacher for a 4 to 5 year old Sunday school class, and I had them play a game. Read what Uzziah did in 2 Chronicles 26:16-21. You can covet things besides money, such as a religious position or chair. We must not give grudgingly (2 Cor 9:5).įalse teachers can be greedy to deceive (2 Pet 2:3). Some evil people even bless the greedy in Ps 10:3.Ĭoveting is also being unwilling to give up money (Pr 21:26). No matter how much they own, they might say they have not reached it yet. Ask a greedy person "How much is too much". We are to hate ill-gotten gain in Pr 28:16. You can lust for gain, or for dishonest gain in Ezek 18:21 33:31 Hab 2:9. We are warned not to love money in Eph 5:3 1 Tim 3:3 6:10 2 Tim 3:2 and Heb 13:5. Paul thought it necessary to specifically testify that he never coveted other people's things in Acts 20:33 and 1 Thess 2:5.Ĭoveting can be intense lust for gain Rom 1:29 or greed (2 Pet 2:14). But anyone, no matter how spiritual they are, can sin in coveting money. The Prodigal Son coveted what was his anyway, but he wanted it now.Īchan and his family were executed because they coveted, and they thought they would not get caught in Josh 7:21. Elijah's servant Gehazi was punished with leprosy for asking for clothes from Naaman the Syrian. Eve coveted what the serpent told her the fruit would provide. The first one to covet was Lucifer, who coveted God's worship. The greedy are supposed to be shunned from the church in 1 Cor 5:10-11 6:10. We should not only avoid greed, but none of us should have even a hint of greed in Eph 5:5. Matthew Henry: "Covetousness is commonly a master-sin and has the command of other lusts."Ĭovetousness is nothing short of idolatry (Col 3:5). Thomas Fuller: "Riches have made more covetous men than covetousness has made rich men." Thomas Adams: "Wealth is the devil's stirrup whereby he gets up and rides the covetous." Vain, therefore, is the zeal of the man who looks to these things." Commentary on Ecclesiastes ch.2 verse 22 p.113 For this is the symbolic significance of unleavened bread, that you do not commit the old deeds of wicked leaven." Dialogue with Trypho, a Jew ch.14 p.201.ĭionysius of Alexandria (246-265 A.D.) observed, "And sorrowful also is the solicitude connected with covetousness: it does not so much gratify those who are successful in it, as it pains those who are unsuccessful while the day is spent in laborious anxieties, and the night puts sleep to flight from the eyes, with the cares of making gain. Justin Martyr (c.150 A.D.) "For what is the use of that baptism which cleanses the flesh and body alone? Baptize the soul from wrath and from covetousness, from envy, and from hatred and, lo! the body is pure. Theophilus of Antioch (168-181/188 A.D.) "But the monsters of the deep and the birds of prey are a similitude of covetous men and transgressors." To Autolycus book 2 ch.16 p.101 Most of them are quoting scriptures, but here are some more interesting additional teachings. (Ex 20:17 Dt 5:21 Rom 7:7 13:9) (Hebrew chamad, Greek epithumeo).ġ9 Pre-Nicene Christians wrote against coveting. Coveting is apparently serious enough, and frequent enough, the last of the Ten Commandments is dedicated to this sin. as good as my neighbor rather it is I want my neighbor's wife, servant, ox, donkey, etc. It is not saying I want a wife, servant, ox, donkey etc. Coveting is not wanting something as good as what somebody else has rather it is wanting what someone else has instead of them. It starts with desire and can include resenting what you do not have, and greed in trying to obtain it by any means. Some people are like that, with various things.Ĭoveting is discontent with what you have, and wanting to take away from another. They can never say no to candy, and they can never get enough. A problem with monkeys though, is that they are covetous. What is your favorite wild animal? Some like monkeys, because they are cute and clever.
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