Amen. So, it's always kind of a double-edged sword when I get to come
here and preach to you guys. I'm glad to be here, especially on a Sunday morning.
I'm not typically here, but if I'm here, it usually means it's at the expense
of our pastor, and he's not feeling well this morning, so do continue to
pray for him that he gets his voice back and is able to get back in
the pulpit. I know that's his heart's desires to be here and to
preach to you folks. But like I said, it's good to be here, especially
on a Sunday, I'm not typically here. In fact, I see so many new faces, I
almost feel like I have to introduce myself. If you don't know, I'm
a Deacon here. I'm typically not here on a Sunday because I'm down in Tucson, but
like I said, I'm filling in, so it's just a pleasure to get to see a lot of
new faces here, and hopefully I get to meet some of you this afternoon. But
what I want to preach to you about this morning is the dangers of
covetousness, the dangers of covetousness. Now, this is an important
topic, and you know, I think it's something that we have to touch on
every so often, just because of the fact that we're living in a society
and a culture today that really promotes covetousness, that really
glorifies covetousness, and desiring more than what we need, or having more
than what we need. But I want to kind of dispel some of the, maybe some
of the misunderstandings of covetousness, but also warn about
covetousness. Now, you're there in 1 John, if you would, keep
something there. We're going to be coming back several times this morning, but go
ahead and turn back to Genesis chapter 3, Genesis chapter 3, because I think in
Genesis chapter 3, we see one of the first examples of covetousness, and
what it leads to, and why we should be careful to guard against
covetousness because of the dangers that it leads to. And when we learn about
covetousness in Genesis chapter 3 is that it's very subtle. It's something
that can creep in slowly, and that's why we have to kind of keep our guard
up and be reminded about it from time to time. And really, what happens here in
Genesis 3 is that we see Eve begin to covet something she's not supposed to
have, but really it's the devil that kind of gets the ball rolling. He's
kind of the one that pushes it down the hill and lets her take it from
there. You're there in Genesis chapter 3. Look in verse 1, the Bible says,
Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God
had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, He shall not eat of
every tree of the garden? So right away we see the devil. How is he
subtle? He starts to just slightly, you know, sow the seeds of doubt in what
God has said. And God has made it very clear that we are not to covet
things. And, you know, that's the way the devil works in our own lives.
They'll say, Well, you know, is it really covetousness? Is it really that bad
of a thing that we desire this or that? And, you know, we have to weigh
those things out, of course, and examine them in the light of scripture
and let the Lord lead us and search our hearts. But that is how the
devil starts. He's very subtle, and he just kind of causes us to begin
to doubt God's word. Look there in verse 2, it says, And the woman
said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the
garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the
garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it
lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely
die, for God doth know that in the day that ye eat thereof, then
your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as gods, knowing good
and evil. So, again, it's the devil that gets the ball
rolling. He's the one that kind of casts the doubt, and he
kind of puts a temptation out there like, Oh, you'll be as
God. This is a good thing. This is something that you want.
This is something you should desire. And what happens is our
flesh takes over from there, and that's what we see with
Eve. Once the devil kind of gets the ball rolling, whether it's
in covetousness or any other type of sin in our life, the
devil sometimes only has to just get the temptation there, just
get the ball rolling, and our flesh will take over from
there. You know, the Bible says in Mark 7 that out of the
heart of men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries,
fornication, murders, thefts, covetousness. So this is one
of those sins that is common to man, one that can come up
from even within. But, again, often the devil knowing
what's in man will be the one to kind of get that ball
rolling. Now, what I want us to notice here from here on
out and throughout the sermon is how often the eyes are
associated with covetousness, how often looking and seeing
and the eyes are mentioned in the same context of
covetousness. Look there in verse 6. And when the woman
saw that the tree was good for food, so what's the first
thing she did? She looked at it. She's there. She's
looking at it. Obviously, she's in proximity to it.
She's probably a little too close to it than she should
be, close enough to see it, and that it was pleasant to
the eye. You know, it was desirable. And the tree to
be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit
thereof and did eat and gave also unto her husband with
her. And the eyes of them both were open. So we see that
the devil, he kind of gets the ball rolling, her flesh
takes over, and because she's right there and because
it's right in front of her and she sees it, she goes
ahead and disobeys. She covets that which she's not
supposed to have and eats it. And, of course, we
know where that led to. Go ahead and turn over to
1 John chapter 2. This is something that we see over
and over again, that when people see things, that's
where it begins, they begin to see things and look
at things they don't want. Then they begin to covet and
they take things. If we're familiar with the story of
Achan, when the children of Israel first went into the
promised land, the first city they defeated was
Jericho. And God told them explicitly not to take
anything thereof. But we know that Achan went in and
desired and took that wedge of gold and the
Babylonian garment and hid those things in his tent.
And it says in verse 20 of Joshua 7, And Achan
answered Joshua and said, I indeed have sinned against
the Lord of Israel. So this is him getting
busted and he's finally fessing up. And thus and
thus have I done when I saw the spoils among the
spoils, a goodly Babylonian garment and 200 shekels of
silver and a wedge of gold and 50 shekels of weight.
Then I coveted them. So it's a process there. The
devil gets the ball rolling, he sees it and then
he covets them and he takes them. And that's what
we see in 1 John chapter 2 as well. It's a
consistent pattern in the scripture. Look at 1 John
chapter 2 verse 15, Love not the things that love
not the world and the things that are in the
world. If any man loved the world, the love of the
Father is not in him. For all that is in the
world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the
eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but
is of the world. So again, it's the lust of the
eyes. It's desiring the things that are in the
world. Now things, you know, that's how we, you
know, take in the world is through our eyes. We
look on the things that are there. And that's
really where covetousness a lot of times
stems in our own hearts and in our own lives
by looking at things that we shouldn't have, by
looking at things that are not ours and that are
not things that we should be desiring. And
they might not even be inherently sinful. But
this is the dangers of covetousness. This is
how slowly it can creep in and how subtle it
can creep into our lives. That, you know,
we'll just find ourselves desiring and looking
at things that we probably can't afford or
don't need or shouldn't have maybe even. And
it starts to creep into our lives. And the
next thing you know, we could end up like
Aiken and we don't want that. Now, one of
the other dangers of covetousness and why we
should be on guard for it is the fact that it
takes place of God and our service to him. And
if you would, again, keep something in 1 John
but turn back to 2 Kings chapter 5. I
think this is a great example of a person who
had a lot of potential, probably could have
served God in a great way in his life. But
unfortunately, he began to covet something that
was not his and it ended up ruining his life
and ended up destroying his service for God. And
that's one of the dangers of covetousness. And
I'm talking about the man Gehazi who was the
servant of Elisha. That's found there in 2 Kings
chapter 5 verse 20. And if we recall the story,
this is when Nahum in the Syrian comes to be
healed of his leprosy. And Elisha tells him go
dip in the waters of Jordan seven times. And
then after he's healed, he, of course, wants
to give a gift to Elisha but Elisha refuses
it. We pick up the story in verse 20 where it
says, But Gehazi, the servants of Elisha, the
man of God, said, Behold, my master has
spared Nahum in the Syrian and not
receiving at his hands that which he
brought. So, again, Nahum was trying to give him
something in reward for the miracle that Elisha
had wrought upon him. And Elisha refused it. He
didn't want it. And now we see Gehazi kind
of saying, well, you know, he kind of let
him, you know, Elisha, my master, kind of let
Nahum in off the hook. You know, and he's
kind of justifying his own mind. Let me do
the right thing. Let me do the spiritual thing
and make sure we, you know, gets what's
owed us out of Nahum. So he goes in
verse, we'll pick it up there. He has
spared Nahum in the Syrian and not receiving
at his hands that which he brought as the
Lord liveth. I will run after him and take
some one of him. I'm not going to take
everything in offer, but, you know, we
should get a little something for it. So
Gehazi followed after Nahum and when
Nahum saw him running after him, he
lighted down from his chariot to meet him
and said, Is all well? And he said, All
is well. My master has sent me saying,
Behold, even now there be come to the, for
me, for Mount Ephraim, two young men of
the sons of the prophets. Give them, I
pray, the Italian of silver and two
changes of garment. And Nahum said, Be
content, take two talents. And he urged
him and bound two talents of silver and
two bags with two changes of raiments
and laid upon the two of his servants.
And they bare them before him. And when
he came to the tower, he took them
from their hand and bestowed them in the
house. And he let the men go and they
departed. Now that should be a clue
right there that he isn't doing the
right thing. I mean, it sounds real
spiritual, right? Well, I'm going to go
get what's owed us. You know, he let
him off the hook. I'm going to go and
just take a little bit of what he
gave us. Well, if that's if there's
nothing wrong with that, why is he
hiding in the house? You know, he's
already condemned in his heart. He
knows what he's doing isn't right. So
he's going and he's hiding it. And he
says in verse 25, But when he went in
and stood before his master, and
Elisha said unto him, Once comest thou
Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant
went no whither. Now that's kind of a
funny statement. Again, if there's
nothing wrong with what he's doing,
why does he feel the need to hide
all this and lie to the person
who's, you know, making this
inquiry? And he says, I've got no
whither. And he said unto him,
verse 26, When not my heart with thee,
when the man turned again from his
chariot to meet thee? And he
asked him this question, I think
it's an important question we all
need to ask ourselves. He says, Is
it a time to receive money and to
receive garments and olive yards and
vineyards and sheep and oxen and
men servants and maid servants? And
that's really a question we should
ask ourselves from time to time. Of
course, maybe not that specific. You
know, we're not, I don't think
anyone here is coveting oxen this
morning, right? But what about, you
know, the next big, you know,
what purchase in our lives? Or we're
always coveting something more, bigger
or better than what we have? Is our
life all about receiving things in
this world, what we can acquire
physically in this life? And we
need to ask ourselves that question.
And obviously the question, the
answer to that question is always
the same. No, no, it is not the
time. And the world has people
chasing these type of things. They
have them chasing the, you know,
the great big mansion with the
three car garage and all the
luxuries that life can afford. And
here's, you know, there's
nothing, you know, we shouldn't
desire those things. And here's the
thing, this isn't the time to
receive that. Now there is going to
be a time when you receive that.
You know, when Jesus comes again
and receives us unto himself, that
where we are, where he is, we
may be also. Then we'll have a
mansion. Amen. Then we'll be
walking on the streets of gold.
That's the time that we'll
receive great riches is in
heaven. But this time on this
earth right now is not the
time to desire those things. And
if you would turn over to Luke
chapter 12, Luke chapter 12, this
is not the time in our life to
try and build up wealth and
receive abundance of things. If
we start to pursue those things,
it's going to lead us down a
potentially dark path and it's
going to take the place of God
in our life. And people can get
very wrapped up in this and
just trying to live. And I'm
not against living debt free,
but if that's your only goal
in life is just live debt free
and have an abundance of money
in the bank account and that's
it? That's a goal to have, but
that's not something that's
not the end all be all of
life. Look here in Luke chapter
12 verse 13, and one of them
said unto him, master speak to
my brother that he divide the
inheritance with me. So here's
a guy coming to Jesus and
he's got this gripe against
his brother. And this is so
unfortunate when you see this
kind of thing happen in a
family where some loved one
passes away and now the
siblings are going to squabble
over the inheritance. It's
probably better just to
preserve that relationship and
let yourself be defrauded.
But this guy didn't see that
and he comes to Jesus he
says, you need to straighten
this out. And he said unto
him, man who made me a judge
or divider over you? 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. That's
not what our life's about.
How many things, how many
toys can we acquire in this
life? That's not what our
life should consist of. We
don't want to measure our
lives by the things that we
own because if we do that,
that's a real vain measure
of life. You know, how big
our house is, how new our
car is, how big our salary
is. And I'm telling you the
world competes over that
kind of thing. And they're
always competing about who's
making more, who has more,
where was your latest and
greatest vacation. I'm not
saying there's anything
inherently evil of all those
things, but I am saying
this, if that's what your
life's about, you're living
a vain, empty life. And
your life should not, as a
Christian, consist of those
things. That's not how we
want to measure our lives. In
fact, the Bible says, if
you want to turn over to
Matthew chapter 6, it's
about to remind us of what
it says in 1 Timothy 6. It
says that we should avoid the
perverse disputings of men
of corrupt minds, destitute
of the truth. And these men
who have these perverse
disputings, these men that
have corrupt minds, these
men that are destitute of
the truth, you know what
they do? It says supposing
that gain is godliness. You
know, we don't want to fall
into this trap of thinking
that just because we have a
lot of things, that obviously
we must be godly. This
false, you know, health,
wealth, and prosperity gospel.
That if you're not rich and
in great health, then you
know there must be something
wrong with you. You must be
in sin. Now, obviously if we
are suffering in some area,
maybe we should self-examine
and say, maybe is this of
the Lord? But that's between
us and God. Let's not take
it upon ourselves to go to
our neighbor and say, oh,
you got kidney stones? Well,
it must be the Lord, you
know? He's getting out of you
one way or another. That's
not our place. That's between
us and God. But we shouldn't
just suppose that gain is
godliness. The more we get,
the more we acquire, and the
more we have, then the more
godly we must be. And there
is a philosophy that is being
preached out there that that's
how things ought to be. But
that's not how it's supposed
to be. Our life is not to
consist in the abundance of the
things which we possess. Our
life, the things that we
should be investing in,
spending our time in, the
things that we should be
giving ourselves to and
pursuing and making our life's
pursuit, are the things that
are going to matter in
heaven, the eternal riches. We
need to invest in heaven.
Look there in Matthew Chapter 6
verse 19. Lay not up for
yourselves treasures upon the
earth. I mean, that's a
clear-cut command. You don't
have to wonder what he means
by that. He's saying don't lay
up treasures for yourself upon
earth. You know, any of us
that watched DuckTales growing
up are all familiar with Uncle
McScrooge or whatever his name
was, you know, and he had his
big silo full of gold coins
and he'd pace around it. You
know, don't be that guy. Don't
be like that. Lay not up for
yourselves treasures upon
earth. Where moth and rust
doth corrupt. It's not going
to do you any good. Those
treasures that we heap and
pile up, they're all going to
go away one day. They're all
going to rust. They're all
going to corrupt. Where
thieves break through and
steal. You know, there goes
your, you know, your
investment portfolio, you know,
because you got all these
crooks on Wall Street and
things like these investment
bankers. I want to just take
your money, you know, enter
the Bernie Madoff who's
just going to take your
money and blow it out billions
of people, billions of
dollars. Thieves break through
and steal today. Nothing's
changed. But lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven.
That's where we should be
investing. That's where we
should be laying up our
treasures, which is in heaven.
Where neither moth nor rust
doth corrupt and where
thieves do not break through
nor steal. And here's the
and here's the real
important reason why it
matters. For where your
treasure is, there will your
heart be also. You know, if
your life just becomes about
getting the oxen and the
changes of raiment and the
wedges of gold and the silver,
you're going to end up like
a hay's eye. You know, your
treasure is going to be on
this earth and you're just
going to be useless to God
because you're too busy
pursuing earthly things and
not the things of God. Now,
one of the most dangerous
things about covetousness is
the fact that it can affect
your heart long before you
even gain what you desire. I
mean, people will desire
something, they'll want
something and they'll desire
it and want it and they'll
have to wait so long to
get it. But long before they
even get what it is that they
want, their heart's already
ruined. Their heart, they've
already gone astray. That's
one of the most dangerous
things about covetousness is
that it can affect your
heart long before you get
what you want. Now, here's
the thing, if we're going
to serve God, if we're not
going to shipwreck our lives
like a hay's eye, you
know, we need to guard
against covetousness. And
part of that is
understanding what
covetousness is and what
it isn't and we'll get
into that. But we need to
guard against it. If you
would, turn over to Psalm
chapter 119. You know, when
God told Moses to appoint
men to lead the children of
Israel, the nation of
Israel, one of the things
he told them to look for
were men that hated
covetousness. It says in
Exodus 18, moreover, thou
shall provide out of the
people able men such as
fear God, men of truth
hating covetousness. I
mean, that's not just,
you know, I'm not going
to be given into it, I'm
just going to avoid it. I
mean, he's saying, hate
it. I want nothing to do
it with it. You know,
despising covetousness,
hating covetousness and
place such over them to
be rulers of thousands,
rulers of hundreds. Now
look there in Psalm 119,
verse 33. Psalm 119,
verse 33. If we're going
to serve God, we must
guard against covetousness
in our lives. He says in
Psalm 119, verse 33,
teach me, O Lord, the
way of thy statutes and
I shall keep it unto the
end. Give me
understanding and I shall
keep thy law. Yea, I
shall observe it with my
whole heart. Make me go
in the path of thy
commandments for therein
do I delight. Decline my
heart unto thy testimonies
and not to covetousness.
Turn away mine eyes. Do
you see again how the
eyes are tied in with
this? You know, if we
want to guard against
covetousness, we should
probably be careful about
what it is that we're
looking at. I mean, every
stoplight we're looking
around and seeing what
everybody else is
driving. Does it have as
many charging ports as
my car? Right? Does it
have the four wheel drive
that I have? What color
is it? Every time you go
by the car dealership,
you know, we just slow
down a little bit. You
know, you're probably on
the 10. That's dangerous.
Don't do that. You know,
when we want to slow
down and take a look at
what's available, what
the latest and greatest
model is, you know, maybe
we're, you know, this
is one, I mean, just
confess my faults. That's
something I have to
guard against. You know,
living in a two bedroom
apartment with a family of
six, you know, every time
you see a for rent sign
somewhere, every time you
see a for sale sign in
some neighborhood, you're
foot can kind of hit the
brake a little bit and you
start to, well, maybe,
you know, find yourself
on Zillow scrolling
through, you know, is
there anything wrong with
owning a decent home and
driving a decent vehicle?
Not at all. But when
we, when those, that
becomes a priority in our
life and that's all
we're ever looking at,
all we're ever pursuing
and all that we're ever
concerned about. Well, now
we've got a problem
because now our treasure
is upon earth and
we'll have no eternal
riches. And one of the
big things, one of the
big dangers about
covetousness that we
had to look out for is,
you know, not just the
fact that it can take the
place of God in our life
and our service to him,
but that it can also
lead you to doing other
sins. I mean, people
begin to covet things
and want riches and
wealth. They'll go to,
some people go to great
lengths to attain what
they want. And it
becomes, it can be
turned into very wicked
people. Go ahead and
turn over to Jeremiah
chapter 22, Jeremiah
chapter 22. We're
probably all familiar
with first Timothy chapter
six, where it says in
verse nine, that they
that will be rich fall
into temptation and a
snare and into many
foolish and hurtful lusts
which drown men in
destruction and
perdition. The Bible
says that if we desire
to be rich, they that
will be rich, they
don't just get off
scot-free. Often they
fall into a snare and
into many foolish and
hurtful lusts. You know,
one thing I always
thought was interesting
as we read these stories
about people that win
the lottery. I mean,
isn't that, that's one
form of covetousness
that we see today.
People that just, they
just want to hit it big
once on the letter.
They're buying the
scratch off tickets,
they're playing the
power ball, and they
just think, man, if they
could just win all those
millions at life would be
better. But when you
actually go read the
stories of those people
who win that stuff,
their lives are ruined. I
mean, the vast majority
of them, they're, they
start off, they're, they
end up worse than they
started off. In some
instances, people even
conspire against them
and murder them or hold
them for ransom. I mean,
terrible stories. I'm
telling you winning
the lotto is probably
the worst things that
could ever happen to
you. So don't play it,
you know. We're in
Jeremiah chapter 22. The
thing we need to guard,
one of the reasons we
need to guard against
covetousness is because
of the fact it'll lead
to bigger sins. Look at
verse 13, woe unto him
that buildeth his house
by unrighteousness and
his chambers by wrong,
that useth his neighbor
serveth without wages and
giveth him not for his
work. Talking about
somebody who's going to
take advantage of another
person's labor. You know,
the employer who's not
going to pay a fair
wage or exploit some
worker and build up his
own house, you know, and
fill his own chambers at
the expense of another.
That saith, I will build
me a house with large
chambers and cut him
without windows and it is
sealed with cedar and
painted with vermilion.
Shout thou rain because
thou closest thyself in
cedar? Did not thy father
eat and drink and do
judgment and justice? And
then it was well with
him? He judged the
cause of the poor and
needy. Then it was well
with him. Was not this
to know me, saith the
Lord, but thine eyes?
There they are again. See
again how the eyes just
always come into play?
Thine eyes and thy heart
are not but for thy
covetousness. And then
look at what it goes on
and says, for to shed
innocent blood and for
oppression and for
violence to do it.
Covetousness can take you
down a dark path and we
see a lot of, we see
this in the world. I mean
the love of money is the
root of all evil. I mean
think about the worst
evils in our world today
and then ask you why
those things are tolerated
or why those things go
on. I mean the sin of
abortion, you know,
murder, snuffing out a
child in the womb,
that's wicked. It's
horrible, it's murder.
But you know what else
it is? It's a money
maker. It makes a lot of
money for people. And
there's, I mean we
could go down so many
different avenues. I mean
alcohol, think about all
the ruined lives from
alcohol, all the ruined
families from alcohol,
all the sin and
heartbreak that alcohol
brings. But I tell you
what, you know why it's
tolerated and why it
goes on and why it's
promoted? These people
are making money and
they're covetous and
they don't mind, you
know, shedding innocent
blood and they don't
mind oppression. They
don't mind violence. You
know, think about all
of our unjust wars.
There's a lot of money
being made from those
wars, from going out and
just oppressing people.
You know, oppressing
people. Think about the
military or the prison
industrial complex. You
know, the people just
being locked up in
prison for life. There's
money to be made there.
And this all stems from
covetousness, you know,
and we need to be guarded
in our own lives. Maybe
it won't lead to that
great of a sin. But I'm
telling you, if we don't
guard against covetousness
in our life, it will
begin to lead us down a
path we'd rather not go
down. Go ahead and turn
over to 1 Kings 21. We'll
look at a couple of
wicked people and you'll
see a great example of
people practicing
covetousness and what
it leads to. You're
going to 1 Kings 21. I'll
read to you from Michael
chapter 2. It says,
Woe to them that devise
iniquity and work evil
upon their beds. When the
morning is light, they
practice it because it is
in the power of their
hand. And they covet
fields. You know, they
want land. They want
more and more. They want
that power. And take them
by violence. They go out
and they want that land
so bad, they're going to
kill people for it and
take it. They're going to
take those resources and
houses and take them
away. So they oppress a
man and his house, even a
man and his heritage. Then
we see a perfect example
of this exact thing.
Somebody coveting and
oppressing and taking by
violence in 1 Kings 21
verse 1. And it came to
pass after these things
that Naboth the
Jezreelite had a vineyard
which was in Jezreel and
hard by the place of
Ahab king of Samaria. Now
if you remember, Ahab was
a wicked king. And it
says there, And Ahab
spake unto Naboth saying,
Give me thy vineyard
that I may have it for
gardens of herbs, because
it is near unto my house,
and I will give thee for
it a better vineyard than
it. Or if it seem good
to thee, I will give
thee the worth of money
in it. So he kind of
starts out good. I mean
there's nothing wrong
so far. He's just
trying to broker a fair
deal. Maybe even he,
you know, Naboth is
going to come out on
top a little bit. You
know, so far, so good.
And then Naboth said to
Ahab, The Lord
forbid it me that I
should give the
inheritance of my
father unto thee. He's
saying, look, this land
is priceless. It's my
inheritance. It was my
dad's and it was my
grandfather's and my
great grandfather's. You
know, there was more,
it was more, that was
more valuable to him
than the money or the
land he could get in
exchange. And Ahab came
into his house heavy and
displeased because of the
word which Naboth the
Jezreel had spoken to
him. For he was sad,
for he said, excuse me,
I will not give thee the
inheritance of my
father's. And he laid
him down upon his bed
and turned away his face
and would eat no bread.
So here he is pouting.
You know, and that's,
that's, that's a good
sign if you have to
wonder whether or not
you're being covetous.
If you can't get what
you want, how does it
affect you? Can you
just not live life
without it? I mean, are
you going to just, are
you just going to go
around life pouting
about not being able to
have that, whatever it
is? If we're, you
know, it's, there's
nothing wrong with
wanting something. It's
when, it's when we,
you know, if it's
something that we can
have, it's something
that we can attain,
it's something that we
can afford. It's not
sinful. It's okay to
have nice things. It's
okay. I mean, we're
going to talk a little
bit here at the end
about, you know, people
who are overly austere,
but if you can't get
what you want, how
does it make you feel?
That's a good litmus
test of whether or not
you're a covetous
person. If you can go
without it, you're
probably not covetous,
but if you're like Ahab
here, or it just
ruins your whole day
and you got to go home
and turn your face to
the wall and lie in bed
like a little baby. I
mean, that's, this is
like a child not
getting his way, you
know, just throwing a
fit. And that's, you
know, we need to
examine our hearts. Do
we have that same
kind of attitude? And
he laid him down upon
his bed and turned his
face and would eat no
bread, but Jezebel, his
wife, came to him and
said to him, why is thy
spirit so sad? And why
eatest, and that thou
eatest no bread? And
he said, because I
spake to Naboth the
Jezebel, I said to him,
give me the vineyard
for money, or else if
it please thee, I will
give thee another vineyard
for it. And he
answered, I will not
give thee my vineyard.
And of course, Jezebel,
you know, she's being
wicked person. She
didn't say the right
thing. Like, hey, you
pathetic loser, get
over it, you know, suck
it up, buttercup, and
get over it. And it
says in verse seven,
Jezebel, his wife, said
to him, dost thou now
govern the kingdom of
Israel? Arise, and eat
bread, and let thy heart
be merry. I will give
thee the vineyard of
Naboth, the, the
Jezreelite. So she
wrote letters in Ahab's
name and sealed them
with his seal and sent
the letters of the
elders, of the nobles
that were in his city
dwelling with Naboth. And
she wrote the letters
saying, proclaim a feast
and set Naboth on high
among the people and
set two men, sons of
Belial before him, to
bear witness against
him. So these sons of
Belial, these are, you
know, the sons of the
devil, right? These are
wicked people that
she's employing here. And
she said, verse 10, and
set two men, sons of
Belial before him, to
bear witness against
him, saying, thou did
blaspheme God and the
king, and then carry
him out and stone him
that he may die. So
she's saying, look, you
know, I'm going to get
that for you. But how
does she go about
getting it? She's, she's
plotting murder against
an innocent man. And
they did it, they
carried it out. If you
read the rest of the
story, they carry it out.
And it says in verse,
you know, towards
the end of verse 13, it
says, then they carried
him forth out of the
city and stone him with
stones. Then he died.
Verse 14, then they
sent to Jezebel, saying,
Naboth is stone and is
dead. And it came to
pass when Jezebel heard
that Naboth was stone
and was dead, that
Jezebel said to Ahab,
arise, take possession of
the vineyard of Naboth
the Jezreelite, which
he refused to give
thee for money. For
Naboth is not alive,
but dead. And it came
to pass when Ahab
heard that Naboth was
dead, that Ahab arose up
to go down to the
vineyard of Naboth
the Jezreelite to take
possession of it. So
here's a person who
wanted something that
wasn't his. And instead
of taking no for an
answer, he uses his
power, he uses his
ability and his position
to go ahead and just
oppress somebody, to go
ahead and just shed
innocent blood and take
something that wasn't
his simply because of
the fact that he wanted
it. He didn't need it.
He just wanted it. And
we have to be on guard
in our own life,
because if this kind of
thing creeps in, maybe
to not this extreme, but
maybe we'll end up
doing things we probably
shouldn't, or maybe we'll
end up doing harm to
others simply because we
want something that isn't
ours, something that we
shouldn't have. And
here's the warning about
it. Why should we guard
against covetousness?
Because it doesn't go
unpunished. People get
punished for being
covetous. I mean, read
the rest of the story,
verse 17. And the Lord
came to Elijah the
Tishbite saying, arise,
go down to meet Ahab,
king of Israel, which is
in Samaria. Behold, he
is in the vineyard of
Naboth, whether he has
gone down to possess
it. And I mean, it's
like right away. He goes
down to possess that,
the Lord's right on
him. And thou shalt speak
unto him saying, thus
saith the Lord, hast thou
killed and also taken
possession? And thou
shalt speak unto him
saying, thus saith the
Lord, the place where
the dogs licked up the
blood of Naboth, shall
the dogs lick thy blood
even thine. I mean,
life's going to go for
life. And this isn't just
a slap on the wrist.
God is punishing this man
with death. And Ahab said
to Elijah, hast thou find
me, O mine enemy? And
he said, I have found
thee because thou has
sold thyself to work
evil in the sight of
the Lord. Behold, I
will bring evil upon
thee and will take away
thy prosperity and will
cut off from Ahab, him
that pisseth against the
wall and him that is
shut up and left in
Israel. And will make
thine house like the
house of Jeroboam, the
son of Nebat, and like
the house of Beyeshua,
the son of Ahijah, and
for the provocation
where thou hast provoked
me to anger and made
Israel to sin. And of
Jezebel also, so she's
not getting off the
hook, spake the Lord
saying, the dogs shall
eat Jezebel by the
wall of Jezebel. Him
that dieth of Ahab in
the city shall the
dogs eat and him that
dieth in the field
shall the fowls of the
air eat. So God
punishes covetousness
here. When we carry it
out, when we start to
go ahead and give into
it, when we start to go
ahead and do things we
shouldn't be doing and
harming others, God does
not just turn a blind
eye to that. And it has
serious consequences. Now,
I don't think any of us
is probably in danger of
going and trying to plot
murder, at least I hope
not, against a fellow
brother or whoever to
try and take their house
or something like that.
But covetousness is
something that can creep
in and God still takes
notice of it to whatever
degree it's found in us.
And we got to be on guard
about it because it
still has consequences. In
fact, you know,
covetousness is one of
those things on the list
that can get you kicked
out of church. Go ahead
and go turn over to
First Corinthians chapter
five. First Corinthians
chapter five. There's a
lot of, there's a few
things that can get you
kicked out of church,
certain sins. We'll find
those in First Corinthians
chapter five, verse nine.
It says in First
Corinthians five, verse
nine, I wrote unto you an
epistle not to company
with fornicators, yet not
altogether with the
fornicators of this world
or with the covetous.
See that? With the
covetous. We're not to
be had fellowship with
covetous people or
extortioners or with
idolaters for then must
he needs go out of the
world. Okay? But now I
have written unto you not
to keep company if any man
that is called a brother
be a fornicator or
covetous. So, you know,
and people read that and
sometimes I think this
makes people a little
overly nervous. Like they,
you know, and that's a
good thing. And by the
end, here's a good
thing. If you're, if
you're wondering whether
or not that's you,
probably it isn't because
you're probably, if
you're sensitive to that,
that probably tells me
that you're, you know,
you're okay that you're
even conscious of this
because covetous people
are usually blind to
this, you know, they
deceive it themselves and
and they, they don't
even see it a lot of
times, but I think what
the covetousness that,
that he's talking about
here, that will cause you
to even be put out from
the local church. It's
not just your average
run of the mill
covetousness that we're
dealing with. Because
here's the thing we
all, I don't care who
you are, struggle with
covetousness from time
to time. It's just a,
it's a common trait.
It's just a common sin
to man. You know, we
all probably from time
to time want something
that we're never, you
know, never going to
have. You know, some
of us are just, you
know, on the gun
channel on YouTube and
we see that new AR like,
man, I'd love to have
that thing, but we're
never going to afford
it, right? We're never
going to be able to
save the money and get
it. It's just not going
to be in the cards for
us. Should we all get
out of the church then?
Should we, should we
dismiss you? I mean,
some of us are, you
know, I want to upgrade
my cell phone. You
wicked, covetous
idolater, get out of
here. You know, is
that what it's talking
about here? Just the
average run of the
mill covetous person
who just, you know,
maybe wants something
they don't necessarily
need or can afford. I
don't think that it
is. I think that it's
talking more about person
who covetousness is their
way of life. It's
something that they,
they, they, it's,
they're just all about
money. They're just,
they're talking about
all the time. It's,
it's their life revolves
around money and
gaining wealth. It's
all they ever talk
about. It's, you
know, just them going
over the top with it.
Now, one example of
that, you know, to
kind of put it in
perspective would be,
you know, people who
are, you know, people
who are running a
business. Okay. Now
there's nothing wrong
with running a business
and there's nothing
wrong with making
money. And there's
nothing wrong with an
owner of a business
making more money than
the people he
employs. That's, that's
the way it should be
because that's the guy
who's taking all the
risks, right? So that's,
there's nothing wrong
with that, but we're,
an example would be if,
let's say we own a
business like, okay, I
used to be a locksmith.
Let's say I own a
locksmith company and
you knew that about
me. You said, hey,
it got worried because
we talk about what
we do. We talk about
what we do for
living. We talk about,
that's our life. You
know, it's just
something we bring up
in conversation. Hey,
what do you do for
living? You know?
Well, you talk to
enough people, enough
people know that about
me now, that I own a
locksmith company, that
I'm a locksmith, that
if, you know, you lock
yourself out of your
car or out of your
house or you need to
change your locks,
that's something I'm
capable of doing. So
you, you know, you
know that about me.
Now hitting me up to
have me come do that
work for you. That's,
you know, that's not
me soliciting business
in church. That's not
me going around
trying to get your,
get your business. Now
that's not covetousness
because I've had
people ask me that,
well, hey, you know,
someone asked me for
a business card and I
gave it to them. You
know, is that, is that
wrong? I don't, I
don't think that it is.
Now, if you were going
around the church, like,
Hey, did you know I'm
a locksmith? How are
your locks doing? You
know, do you know who
has a key to your
house? Did you know
the average person who
rents a home never
changes a locksmith? How
do you know the
babysitter doesn't have
a key? You know, how
long, how do you know
your neighbor doesn't
have that, the past
tenant didn't give a
key to the neighbor.
You don't know that.
You should probably
take care of that. I
happen to know a guy, you
know, and because it's
you, I'm willing to cut
you a special rate. And
if, by the way, if you
get some other people
around here to come and
see me, you know, I
can get you a little
cutback. That would
mean be solid that now
I'm covetous, aren't
it? Now I'm coming
into the church and
I'm soliciting church
members. I'm not here
to be edified by the
preaching the word of
God. I'm not here to
help build up the
church or, or be about
the work of God. I'm
here to promote my
business and fleece the
flock and make money.
That's what it's
talking about here. Not
just somebody who, you
know, like we've all
done, just saw something
they liked and thought
about it a little too
long, you know, and
wanted that. You know,
there's, there's a,
there, this is someone
who is given to
covetousness. You know,
they're actively
pursuing it to the
point where it's become
idolatry in their life.
The Bible says in
Colossians chapter three,
Mortify therefore your
members upon the, which
are upon the earth.
Fornication, uncleanness,
inordinate affection, evil
concupiscence, and
covetousness, which is
idolatry, for which
things the wrath of God
come upon the children
of disobedience.
Covetousness can turn
into idolatry. And
that's when I believe we
have to be turned, you
know, turn up over to
first Corinthians chapter
five and start enforcing
that rule. When you see
a person with their
covetousness is so out
of control that it's
idle to them. It's
taken the place of God
in their life. They're
all about serving that
God of money and gain
and wealth to the point
where God is no longer
part of the equation.
That's what we're
talking about.
And here's the warning,
you know, to all of us,
is that you cannot serve
both. You can't serve
God and an idol called
covetousness. You
can't. And Jesus said,
no man can serve two
masters for he will
either hate the one and
love the other or else
he will hold to the
one and despise the
other. Ye cannot serve
God and mammon. Does
that mean you should
not earn a paycheck?
Does that mean you
should not earn a
living? No, of course
not. That'd be foolish
to say that. But it's
when we're loving those
things and pursuing
those things to the
point where now God is
no longer even a
priority in our life.
That's when we've
become covetousness and
it's become very
detrimental. So we see
that, I think we all
understand the warning
of covetousness, why
we need to take heed
because it comes with
consequences, you know,
and how subtle it is and
how slowly it can creep
into our lives and
begin to lead us
astray. It can even come
to the point place
where we have to be
dealt with in church
discipline or God begins
to judge us in our life
and chasing us. So we
see the danger of it,
but it kind of gets to
that blurry line of what
is covetousness? What
exactly is that? We have
to start to define that,
I think, because I think
some people, you know,
we often have some
misconceptions about
this. Now, what is
covetousness? Well,
covetousness, I believe,
is simply desiring to
have something that is
not yours. I mean,
that's probably just the
most boiled down
definition of it.
Desiring to have
something that is not
yours. I mean, that's
what we see in Exodus
chapter 20 where we
find the Ten Commandments.
Thou shalt not covet
thy neighbor's house.
Thou shalt not covet
thy neighbor's wife,
nor his manservant,
nor his maidservant,
nor his ox, nor his
ass, nor anything that
is thy neighbor's. So the
problem here is not
those things. It's not
the fact that this guy
was desiring a wife.
It's not, now I will
say to you single guys,
don't go looking for a
wife. Find a nice single
girl. All right, that's
my advice. You know,
it's not the fact that
this guy was desiring a
wife, it was that he was
desiring somebody else's
wife. He was desiring
somebody else's house,
somebody else's
possessions. The problem
is not those things,
it's the problem is who
those things belong to.
You know, we shouldn't
desire things that
belong to other people.
And really that's, you
know, another way to tell
if somebody's being
covetous to the point of
having to be disciplined
by a local church. If
they're coming in and
like just waving
everything in your face,
hey, look what I got.
You see that? Bet you'd
like to have that, but
you never will. But I
got it. You know,
they're flaunting it in
your face saying, hey,
I've got all this and
you got nothing. And
then trying to inspire
you, you know, make you
feel covetous towards
them. But, so that's
basically what
covetousness is. It's
desiring something that
is yours. It's also
desiring to have
something you cannot
have. Maybe it doesn't
belong to somebody else,
but the fact is it's
just something you're
never going to have.
You know, I've already
settled it in my heart
that I'm never going to
own a private island in
the Bahamas. It's just
not going to happen,
right? And probably the
same for a lot of you,
you know? So I'm not
going to sit around and
think about that and
covet that and desire
that and want that.
That would be
covetousness, desiring
something you cannot
have. The Bible says in
James 4, from whence
come wars and
fightings among you,
come they not hence
even of your lust that
you warn your members,
you lust and have not,
you kill and desire to
have and cannot obtain.
The problem is here,
these people are going
to these great lengths
because they want
something they cannot
have. So that's what
covetousness is. You
know, just boil it down.
Desiring something that
is not yours, desiring
something that you
cannot have. Well, let's
define real quick, I
don't know what's
going on with the audio
there. I'm getting a
little reverb. Is that
what they call it? I
don't know if they've
got anybody back
there, but let's define
real quick what
covetous isn't. What
covetous isn't. Because
here's where people,
I think, get a little
off the path. They
want to, they get a
little, things can get
a little hazy here.
They start thinking
that they're covetous
people when they're
not. Wanting to have
something that's
unnecessary. It's not
something you need, but
you want it, okay? But
you can go about
getting it in an honest
fashion. I don't think
that's covetous. If
you say, hey, there's
something nice that I
like, that I want to
have for myself, and I
have the means to get
it. I've worked hard. I
put in the time I worked
out over time at work.
You know, I put in the
effort needed to afford
those things. That's
not covetousness. You
know, now if that's
what your life revolves
around, then yeah, maybe
you need to check that
out. But like the
illustration I used
earlier, you know, some
of you need to upgrade
that phone. Like get
with us. You know, this
is the, you know, join
us in the future, you
know, or maybe not, you
know, whatever it is.
But sometimes we just
want something a little
bit better, a little
bit nicer. It'd be
useful. It'd be helpful.
It's something that we
could enjoy. Maybe it's
something that our
family could use, and
we could have quality
family time with. That's
not covetousness. You
know, that's not you
desiring something that
you shouldn't have. That's
not desiring you
something that is not
yours or something that
you can never have. And
I think a lot of people
get confused on that
point. The Bible says if
you're there in 1 John
chapter 2, if you're
still there, 1 John
chapter 2, love not the
world, neither the things
that are in the world.
If the many man loved the
world, the love of the
father is not in him.
For all that is in the
world, the lust of the
flesh and the lust of the
eyes and the pride of life
is not of the father but
is of the world. Now
notice what he said
there. He said, love not
the world, neither the
things that are in the
world. Okay? He didn't
say don't have things.
He didn't say make sure
you don't have anything.
You're not allowed to
have things in the
world. Is that what he
said? He said don't love
them. Don't love the
things that are real.
Don't be like Ahab,
where if you don't get
it, you're going to
throw a pity party and
you're gonna be a cry
baby about it. Because
then that is
covetousness. And it
just goes back to the
same thing. You know
money is probably the
thing that people
covet most. And here's
the thing about money.
Money is not inherently
evil. Just like wanting
something nice is not
inherently evil. Money
is not inherently evil.
It's the love of money
that is the root of
all evil. Go ahead and
turn over to 1 Timothy
chapter 6. I mean if
money, you know money
is not inherently evil
because we know that
because of the fact,
look at all the things
we're able to do for
God with money. I mean
this church does a lot.
This church spends a lot
of money on
accomplishing the work
of God. And as a
result, money comes in.
Because God knows that
this is where it's
going to get done. That
if money comes in here,
it's not going to go
towards just some vain
luxury. That's actually
to go back into his
work. And that's why
his people are willing
to give to it because
they can see that. They
can see the map over
there filling in. They
can see that one way
back there in the Navajo
Res start to fill in.
They can see the sign
up sheets. They can see
the soul winning times.
They can see the work
that's going into the
ministry. That's
accomplished with money.
You know the building
that you're sitting in
right now. There's a rent
payment every month.
There's utilities that
get paid. You know the
chairs get replaced. I
mean it just goes on
and on. So money is
not inherently evil. That's
what we love. We don't
love the Lord. We don't
love the work of the
Lord. We're more
concerned with just
piling up and having and
getting those things
which are not ours or
desiring those things
which we shouldn't have
and just piling up
riches. Look at 1
Timothy chapter 6 verse
9 and pay attention to
the way it reads because
it's important. But they
that will be rich. Now
it doesn't say they
that are rich. That
comes later in the
chapter and gives very
specific instructions to
those people. But this
is addressing people
that are not rich. OK
they're starting out
they're not rich. They
that will be rich fall
into temptation and a
snare into many foolish
and hurtful lusts which
drown men in destruction
and perdition. You know
everyone thinks that
their life's going to
be better if they could
just get all that money
but it's not. The
Bible says the exact
opposite. The problem is
is that because of verse
10 for the love of
money. You know they
want to get rich just
so they can be rich. So
they can they can just
take it easy and here's
the problem with that
they end up getting
into things they
probably shouldn't. I
mean money opens up a
lot of doors to a lot
of sins that are
otherwise are not
available to you. You
just simply can't afford
to get into. You know
coming into money is
not the best thing to
happen in your life. So
what we have to
understand it's those
that will be rich not
those that are rich. And
what we kind of want to
warn and guard against
is this this this hyper
spiritual you know don't
fall for this hyper
spiritual this fake
humility you know that
just preaches this
over the top life of
austerity. You know and
just saying that you
know you know you don't
need to have those
things and if you do
you're wicked. You know
you shouldn't want
anything better than
what you have. You know
because here's the fact
you don't need a lot of
things you already have.
I mean how how far do
you want to take that.
How far do you want to
run with that. You
know do you really need
that second car. Do you
really need that first
car. I mean Uber's out
there. You know or
you're just you know
you're just some
covetous wicked
person because you have
to have a car. You
know do you really need
that cell phone. What's
wrong with landline. You
know you do you really
need the Internet. You
know. No we don't need
these things but we have
them. Does that make us
covetous people. You
know you don't need the
computers. You don't need
those guns. You know you
don't need more than a
few changes of clothes.
Right. Do you I mean do
we do we need more than
just a few changes of
clothes. Not really. If
you think about it you
just want to always be
doing laundry. You know.
But this is where that
kind of fake spirituality
starts to come into play.
Where people just think
that if you have anything
or too much of something
that you just must be a
wicked person. You know
do you really need that
non plastic dining
where. What's wrong with
paper bowls. I mean then
you could cut you could
cut down on your water
bill too by not running
that dishwasher and give
that money to the work
of the Lord. You know
this is this is the
type of mentality that
can creep in that's out
there. I've heard it. You
know you shouldn't be
dining out. Let's get
out. You know speaking of
dining where why are you
even going out to eat
ever. You know why don't
you take that tip you
were going to give to
the waitress or whatever
and give that to a
missionary. You hypocrite.
No entertainment either.
You know. Cancel that
YouTube Red subscription.
Get right with God. But
this is this is what's
out there. I'm telling
you. His kind of
mentality. But that's
those that will be rich
right. That's what
we're talking about.
People that desire to be
rich. But then there's
some people you know
newsflash some people
come into the Christian
life they already have
money. What are they
supposed to do. They are
they automatically just
going to be chalked up
as wicked people. What
about this. What if
there's people that
just succeed that God
just blesses and they
have they have a little
bit more. You know they
have some wealth. They
have some some money.
Does that make necessarily
make them wicked people.
Some people come into the
Christian life with
wealth and some people
through hard work and
diligence gain riches.
God blesses them and
they come into that
wealth. What they do
with that wealth is
what matters. That
determines what kind of
person they're going to
be. That's why I said
look in verse 17. I
mean God addresses it.
He says in verse 17
charge them that are
rich. You know them
that already have
wealth. Them that do
have wealth. Them that
have some money that
aren't you know just
live in paycheck to
paycheck to have some
money to spend to
throw around. Charge
them that they be not
high minded nor trust in
uncertain riches but in
the living God. So
that's showing us
they're one of the
dangers of riches is
that we can start to
think you know by my
own power have I
gotten this wealth and
will forget that you
know it is the Lord
that gave us strength
that gained that
wealth. And they can
start to trust in
their own uncertain
riches. You know
they're not leaning on
God you know because
they don't they don't
have maybe they don't
have the need that some
people have. You know
they don't have to make
ask God to make ends
meet day in and day out
or week to week or
whatever it is. They
can start to trust in
uncertain riches and not
the living God who
giveth us richly all
things to enjoy. Okay
there it is again. God
gives us things to
enjoy. It's okay to
enjoy things in life.
It's okay to have
nice things. But he
tells the people that
are rich in verse 18
that they do good that
be rich in good works
ready to distribute
willing to communicate. I
mean that's a good use
of riches. Of being
able to you know
ready to distribute
willing to communicate
that's talking about
giving that's talking
about being generous
you know helping
others and you know I
think that's a real
important reason why we
should be plugged into
our local church and
get to know people in
here. Because then you
can actually find you
know if you're
somebody who has
wealth and I'm not
trying to tell you
what to do with your
money but the Bible
does say that you
should be willing to
distribute ready to
communicate. I'm not
saying go around and
just pay off
everybody's debt or
something like that.
But if we get to
know one another
actually develop
relationships you
might find somebody
who's really destitute
who really needs some
help and now you have
a unique opportunity to
help that person or to
give to the work of
the Lord and see great
things done for God.
And it says if you do
that verse 19 you're
laying up in store for
themselves a good
foundation against the
time to come that they
may lay hold on
eternal life. So
Christians that have
wealth that are rich
should be careful how
they use that wealth to
what end are they going
to use it? They're just
going to use it to
satisfy themselves just
give them all the nice
things that they want
and there's nothing
wrong with having
something nice. But is
it to the point where
now you're not willing
to help anybody else?
God just takes the back
seat. The work of God
goes undone. And really
what's interesting about
people that have the
wealth is they really
have a unique
opportunity that some
people don't. Those of
us that don't have
money we don't have the
same opportunity. That
opportunity to lay up
and store a good
foundation. And that's a
unique opportunity that
people that have come
into wealth have. That
they can lay up and
store a good foundation.
I mean they have a
unique opportunity to
give and to help the
work of God and to see
and send riches forward
into heaven. They're
going to receive a
reward in heaven for
those good works. So
again the sermon this
morning is about
covetousness. It's
about the dangers of
it. We want to define
what it is so that we can
guard against it. So how
do we guard against
covetousness? Well
first we understand the
dangers of it and we
understand what it is
and what it isn't. We've
gone over that. But
really we guard against
covetousness by
practicing contentment.
That's the best way to
guard against it. Not
letting covetousness
creep in your life.
Realize, be thankful, be
grateful for the things
that you already have.
You know going back to
the example of myself
in the whole two-bedroom
apartment situation. I
remember, I don't know
if I've shared this
story if I have or not,
but I remember when I
was working in a bus
route in Michigan I would
go to apartment
complexes. This was
before I got married and
I remember meeting with
my soul winning partner.
I can remember this as
clear as day telling my
soul winning partner
saying man I'll never
live in an apartment. How
do these people live
like this? Meanwhile
there's some guy with
like a dirt floor
somewhere with a straw
roof and I'm worried
about having to live in
an apartment. There's
people that would love
to live in an apartment.
In fact I met a lot of
them. That was my
attitude back then. God
knew right away. He
said oh you little
Ahab. Oh I got a little
Gehazi down there. Let's
deal with that. I ended
up living, and I'm not
kidding about this, a
literal shack on the
edge of a swamp. A
literal shack probably
not much bigger than that
room right there. It was
on a literal swamp in
Michigan. It was just
leftover scrap lumber
from one of the old men
in the church. He built
the house a long time
ago and he just slapped
up this little cabin
with all the leftover
lumber he had laying
around. I wouldn't live
in that thing. It didn't
have any heat in
northern Michigan. God
was dealing with this
little Corbin, the
little Gehazi at that
time and working on me.
Now the second winter I
had, we did get a 100
pound propane tank and
had some heat. It got up
to a balmy 58 I think.
But I mean that was two
years of that. I'm in
there living with wolf
spiders and everything
else that comes out of
the swamp. That was a
rough couple of years.
But you know what? When
I moved to that two
bedroom apartment down
here at the corner of
40th and Southern
Avenue, I was thankful
for it when it was a
one bedroom. Then it
turned into a two
bedroom at Taj Mahal.
But I'm thankful for it.
And I've changed my
attitude. But I had to
go through that first. I
had to go and really
understand what's really
important. I had to learn
to practice contentment,
to be thankful for the
things that I do have.
And if we will do that,
we'll guard against
covetousness. And we
have to guard against
covetousness because
it's a dangerous sin.
And we have to guard
against it. And if we
find ourselves sacrificing
the work of God for
earthly gain, we need to
really just stop and take
inventory of our
priorities. You know, and
if you want to, you
know, people ask, like,
well, how do I know if
I'm covetous? Here's
the best remedy. Pray
about it. Ask God to
search your reign and
try your hearts and
show you whether there
be some wicked way in
you, you know, and use
the principles in
scripture. But ultimately
God, you know, can
tell you whether or
not you're a covetous
person. So let's go
ahead and guard against
that. And let's keep
our priorities in line
that whether we have
wealth or whether we
don't, that God is
always the focus and
accomplishing the work
of God is what we're
about in this life. So
that we can have true
riches in heaven. Let's
go ahead and pray.
Heavenly Father, again,
thank you for, thank
you for the great
riches wherewith you
blessed us in Christ.
And Father, thank you
for the salvation
through your son, the
free gift. And Lord, I
pray that you'd help
all of us to always be
on guard against the
sin of covetousness,
Lord, that we would
always keep our focus
on you and the work
of God and growing
your kingdom and
seeing souls saved. And
Father, I pray that
you'd just bless our
pastor, help them to
cover quickly and that
he would be back in
good health soon. We
ask in Christ's name.
Amen.