PROF.
BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies);
ND/HD (Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.
EVILS OF COVETOUSNESS
Main
Text:
“And He said to
them, take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in
the abundance of the things he possesses”, (Luke 12:15).
INTRODUCTION:
“Covetousness” is
synonymous with “greed”. The two words are interchangeably used by Bible
Translators to indicate a passionate desire for something, especially something
that belongs to another person. According to a New International Webster’s
Student Dictionary of the English Language, “to covet is to long to possess
something belonging to another person or strongly desiring someone’s property”.
Thomas Adams in an attempt to cite the insatiability of the desires of the
covetous individual remarks that, “the covetous man pines in plenty, like
Tantalus up to the chin in water, and yet thirsty”. This implies that
covetousness is a dragnet that pulls its victims into the pool of unstoppable
dis-satisfaction. Having said this, please, discover also that;
1)
COVETOUSNESS
IS PROBLEM OF THE POOR
One
of the evils of covetousness is that it robs the poor of their belongings. This
was the problem of Naboth whom Ahab coveted and forcefully took over his piece
of land, (I Kings 21:1-6). Another relevant reference in the Bible that
supports the fact that covetousness is a source of problem to the poor is the
case of King Herod who coveted and took the wife of his brother Philip, (Mark
6:17-29). It is sad to note that both Naboth and John the Baptist died by dint
of covetousness of the aforementioned kings.
In
today’s world too, the poor are dispossessed or denied access to what belong to
them. Politicians loot funds meant for the uplift of the poor. Greedy pastors
covet and possess church wealth at the expense of the poor members of their
denominations. Wealthy individuals in society dispossess the poor of their
wives and other valuable. Thus, the rich getting richer and the poor getting
poorer. No one can deny the existence of the evils of covetousness in the
present world. But, note that God’s word cautions that one should not;
i)
covet one’s neighbor’s wife, his property or
other valuables, (Exodus 20:17);
ii)
violate the law of love by coveting one’s
neghbour’s belongings, (Romans 13:8-9);
iii)
covet outlawed materials to avoid destroying
oneself and family as was the case of Achan, (Joshua 7:21-26), etc.
2)
COVETOUSNESS
IS ALSO PROBLEM OF THE RICH
When
King Ahab dispossessed Naboth of his vineyard and eventually killed him through
the instrumentality of his wife, Jezebel, he was not considering any problem
because he felt he was in charge. However, his own problem set in when God sent
Elijah, the prophet, to proclaim his judgment, (I Kings 21:17-26).
With
this divine gesture, the Ahabs in today’s world should better be warned that;
the police officer who takes undue advantage of the allowances of the men of
the force has God to contend with, the government official who siphons public
funds at the expense of the poor masses will definitely be brought to the court
of retributive justice, the traditional ruler who denies the poor members of
his community their benefits will like Ahab face God in judgment, the big boss
who robs his work – force of their benefits will soon face the wrath of God,
etc. By this therefore, the rich is advised to refrain from covetousness;
i)
as a way of preventing God’s judgment, (I
King 2:17-19);
ii)
but, learn to share with the poor, (I
Timothy 6:17-19);
iii)
in order to avoid the consequences of such
actions, (Micah 2:1-3), etc.
3)
COVETOUSNESS
IS A DECEIVER
Covetousness
often deceives its victims into believing that one’s material possession is a
sign of God’s acceptability of one. But, Jesus quickly refuted this idea when
he says; “One’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things one
possesses”, (Luke 12:15B). In spite of this, many people seem to still hold the
idea that all is well just because of the presence of money and materials. To
many pastors, God is in their ministries just because of the presence of
material blessings, to most families, they have favour with God, simply because
of the key positions they hold in society, to some businessmen and women, their
business expansion is a mark of God’s approval of their way of life, etc. this
erroneous concept was the problem of the covetous rich fool whom Jesus cited in
is parable, (Luke 12:16-20). Notice also, that Jesus described him as
materially rich, but, poor towards God, (verse 21). So;
i)
the pastor who by dint of covetousness
steals members of his fellow pastors in his bid to expand his church is
deceived into the risk of divine judgment, (verse 20);
ii)
the politician who covets, obtains and
expands his political enclave without God is also deceived into the risk of
God’s judgment, (verse 20);
iii)
the businessman or woman who allows
covetousness to drag him or her into ungodly type of business(es) has equally
been deceived into the risk of God’s wrath, (verse 20), etc.
In conclusion,
note that covetousness is an ill-wind that does not blow in favour of anybody.
Where it uses the rich to dispossess the poor, it prepares him or her for
supreme judgment. Where it dispossesses the poor, it pushes him or her into the
agonies of soul and spirit. And where it succeeds in deceiving one into
believing that money and material are what count, it closes one’s relationship
with the Lord, and in turn establishes one for eternal damnation. “What shall it profit a man if he gains the
whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).
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