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Some say that covetousness is the desire for something that belongs to another. Some say that covetousness could not occur until one acted upon the desire. Here are some verses:
Romans 7:7: "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet."
Romans 13:9: "For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
2 Corinthians 9:5: "Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness."
In the 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary "covetousness" is defined as:
1. A strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed good; usually in a bad sense, and applied to an inordinate desire of wealth or avarice. 2. Strong desire; eagerness.
Covetousness is closely related to greed, avarice, excessive desire for money, or the desire for another's possessions. I think one of the key words to remember here is the word "desire." To overcome covetousness one must control desire. Desire is a function of the mind, or heart. What the heart dwells upon becomes desire and will lead to actions and emotions. I believe it is possible to allow emotions to direct our thoughts without acting upon what we want.
Consider these facts. Jesus warned about the power of possessions in many places, for example:
Luke 12:15-21: "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. 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
Here we have an example of one who only "planned" to be greedy, but was judged negatively.
Matthew 6:19-24:
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will 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."
I believe verse 21 above is very instructive, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." You may treasure something in your heart, and therefore cause your whole course of life to be "full of darkness" (verse 23).
We also have a case in Jesus teaching that illustrates this point:
Matthew 19:16-22: "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."
This rich young man was worthy of admiration on many levels. "Honor" in the context above indicates that he was using his material wealth to assist his parents in a financial way, but his problem was still covetousness in his heart. The reason is that greed or covetousness is essentially idolatry.
Consider Colossians 3:5:
"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:"
Then in Mark 7:22 covetousness is mentioned in a list of evil things that come out of a man's heart.
The desire for possessions can easily become all consuming and therefore takes control of a human life in a way that only God should. This is why covetousness is so destructive. It's not only the act that seeks to get more, it is the thought process which takes control of our lives and leads us away from our devotion to God.
I hope these thoughts help you in your study of God's precious Word.
Romans 7:7: "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet."
Romans 13:9: "For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
2 Corinthians 9:5: "Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness."
In the 1828 Noah Webster Dictionary "covetousness" is defined as:
1. A strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some supposed good; usually in a bad sense, and applied to an inordinate desire of wealth or avarice. 2. Strong desire; eagerness.
Covetousness is closely related to greed, avarice, excessive desire for money, or the desire for another's possessions. I think one of the key words to remember here is the word "desire." To overcome covetousness one must control desire. Desire is a function of the mind, or heart. What the heart dwells upon becomes desire and will lead to actions and emotions. I believe it is possible to allow emotions to direct our thoughts without acting upon what we want.
Consider these facts. Jesus warned about the power of possessions in many places, for example:
Luke 12:15-21: "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. 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."
Here we have an example of one who only "planned" to be greedy, but was judged negatively.
Matthew 6:19-24:
"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will 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."
I believe verse 21 above is very instructive, "where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." You may treasure something in your heart, and therefore cause your whole course of life to be "full of darkness" (verse 23).
We also have a case in Jesus teaching that illustrates this point:
Matthew 19:16-22: "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."
This rich young man was worthy of admiration on many levels. "Honor" in the context above indicates that he was using his material wealth to assist his parents in a financial way, but his problem was still covetousness in his heart. The reason is that greed or covetousness is essentially idolatry.
Consider Colossians 3:5:
"Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:"
Then in Mark 7:22 covetousness is mentioned in a list of evil things that come out of a man's heart.
The desire for possessions can easily become all consuming and therefore takes control of a human life in a way that only God should. This is why covetousness is so destructive. It's not only the act that seeks to get more, it is the thought process which takes control of our lives and leads us away from our devotion to God.
I hope these thoughts help you in your study of God's precious Word.