The Sin of Covetousness

Exodus 20:17; Luke 12:13-25

GOLDEN TEXT: “Thou shalt not covet … anything that is thy neighbor’s.”—Exodus 20:17

WHILE Jesus was preaching or spiritual themes He was interrupted by one of the audience whose mind was filled with anxiety regarding temporal matters; and, perhaps finding that he was unable under the Law to obtain what he considered to be his just due, he appealed to the Great Teacher to use His influence on his behalf—that He speak to his brother advising this brother to divide the inheritance with him. While refusing to interfere with the matter the Lord made use of the intrusion to point out a lesson on the subject of covetousness—a lesson which would be of benefit to both of the brothers, if they were present, and which could not fail to be of profit to all His hearers.

Every one who will carefully consider the meaning of our Lord’s parable in illustration of this subject of covetousness will draw from it a valuable lesson. In this parable it is not stated that the rich man had obtained his wealth by any unlawful means. He is not charged with having defrauded his brother or his neighbor. He had temporal blessings in abundance. By natural increase he was wealthy; and the point of the lesson turns upon his question to himself, What shall I do with these possessions?

The right attitude of mind, “the spirit … of a sound mind,” would have answered this question somewhat after this manner: These bounties of divine providence are a trust, and I am a steward, a trustee. My position will permit me to be a means of great blessing to others of my fellows not so bountifully supplied; in fact, I have in my hand the power to make many fellow-creatures comfortable and happy. In discharging my stewardship in this proper manner I shall have much greater pleasure than if I endeavored selfishly to use all these bounties upon myself, or to store them all up for my own use in the future.

Such an unselfish, generous course would not only have had divine approval, but, additionally, it would hay e been the most direct road to happiness for the already favored individual himself. “There is that which scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.” (Prov. 11:24) So, many have found the hoarding of earthly wealth leads to poverty of heart, and a meanness of disposition, certainly reprehensible in the sight of Him with whom rests our eternal interests.

On the contrary he who uses, in harmony with his best judgment, the earthly wealth committed to his care, gains thereby a rich reward of approbation on the part of those with whom he has to do; and, through the Lord’s gracious arrangement in Christ, his cultivation of the spirit of love becomes a most important factor in the attainment of everlasting joy and blessing.

Though our Lord in the parable represents the covetous person as succeeding in accumulating riches, yet, as a matter of fact, many of the covetous never so succeed. However their selfishness is no less reprehensible because it fails of success. The lesson is rather that eves: if a covetous person succeeds in acquiring what he covets, nevertheless he makes a miserable failure of life. How much more of a failure is the covetous person who gains nothing, either in the present life or in that which is to come!

Our Lord turning to His disciples at this juncture, gave a special lesson applicable to them only, and not to the multitude. A paraphrase of this passage is: Be not anxious as respects your earthly life, its food and its clothing. Think rather of the life which is to come: remember that this present condition is, front the divine standpoint, a death condition. Consider that in you who believe, the new, the eternal life, has already begun, and that if you will faithfully continue under present conditions in living for this new life and not after the flesh, it will be perfected in the First Resurrection. Think more of your bodies than of the raiment that covers them. Think more of your life than of the natural food by which it is sustained. God is able and willing to give perfect life and perfect bodies and perfect conditions in which to live to those who believe in Me and who follow in My footsteps.

We are to remember that if we have become Jesus’ disciples and have fully consecrated ourselves to know and do the Father’s will, we have given up every interest to His superior wisdom. Our Heavenly Father knoweth what things we have need of, even before we ask Him, and is both able and willing to give what is best. Therefore if, in divine providence, poverty is our unavoidable portion, let us accept it as best for us, according to divine wisdom far exceeding our own. Let us remember that our Father is guarding our future and eternal interest, and permitting only such experiences in this present life as will be the most beneficial, preparing us for and leading us most directly to the eternal riches.

The Apostle Paul assures us that all things work together for good to them that love God, to the called ones according to His purpose. (Romans 3:25) How necessary then for us to avoid all covetousness if we would inherit this promise. To profit by this promise however, it is necessary as is true of all other promises of God’s Word to have faith and confidence that “it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.”—Phil. 2:13

QUESTIONS:

Outline the parable used by Jesus to illustrate the sin of covetousness.

Is a covetous person any less sinful if he fails to obtain that which he covets?

How should a Christian view the material things of this life, and what should be his chief concern?

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