Covetousness is deceptive in that we think it will bring satisfaction. But the satisfaction isn’t lasting. We’ll always want more.
It’s like cotton candy. When you get it at the fair, or at the baseball game, it looks like a huge portion. But as soon as you put it in your mouth, it begins to dissolve. There’s never as much of it as you thought. It tastes good for a moment, but then it’s gone.
Jesus said, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12:15). Gathering more things will not satisfy.
Covetousness chokes off the spiritual life
Coveting is a form of unbelief. When we covet a situation other than the one given to us, then we show a lack of trust in God’s ability to provide the best for us. Worry, insecurity, inflexibility – all these are examples of covetousness. We desire something different than what God has given us.
“O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:30-33)
Covetousness spawns many other sins
I wrote about this yesterday. Violence, murder, theft, lying, adultery – all these things begin in the mind. This is why your thought life is immensely important, and why seemingly “private” sins, like lust and pornography can have disastrous consequences.
Covetousness lets you down when you need help the most
This is certainly true concerning money and material things. “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it” (1 Timothy 6:7). On your deathbed, money and possessions are not going to be a big asset to you.
But this is also true of circumstances. "If only I wasn’t married to this person, if only I wasn’t single, if only I had a better job…" Changes in circumstances will not bring lasting contentment. They are mirages on the horizon.
Covetousness destroys the soul
Ultimately, coveting, thw desire for more, or for something other than what we have, will destroy us if left to run its course. Envy led Ahab to forcibly take Naboth’s vineyard in 1 Kings 21, leading to his destruction. The coveting of another man’s wife led David into adultery, arranged murder, and eventually led to the death of a child. The coveting of money (or power) led Judas to betray Jesus, and to spiritual ruin.
We'd all do well to heed this warning from the Apostle Paul. Addressing money (but applicable to all kinds of covetousness) he says: “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:9).
*The framework for this post is based on John Piper, The Purifying Power of Faith in Future Grace, p. 225-226
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