CONTENTMENT VS. COVETOUSNESS

by Debbie Lord

This study sure brought home just how crucial it is to repent of and renounce every bit of covetousness—even in our conversation (Hebrews 13:5)—as our mouth speaks what our hearts are full of (Luke 6:45).

God says that covetousness is not to even be named once among the saints (Ephesians 5:3). If we love the world, the love of God is not in us (1 John 2:15). Covetousness is idolatry (Colossians 3:5) and (not repented of) will cost us our inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God (Ephesians 5:5)!

This is an urgently needed warning to all of Christ’s Church.
Thank you, Todd, for drawing attention to this subject.

CONTENTMENT:

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Philippians 4:11

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5

1 Timothy 6:6-8; 11-19

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain.

⁷ For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

⁸ And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

¹¹ But thou, O man of God, . . .  follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

¹² Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

¹³ I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;

¹⁴ That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:

¹⁵ Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

¹⁶ Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

¹⁷ Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

¹⁸ That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;

¹⁹ Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Hebrews 13:5-6 – Let your conversation be without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

The believer need not covet anything but rather can be content at having everything, because he has a relationship with Christ!

COVETOUSNESS:

God says covetousness is idolatry and (not repented of) will cost us our inheritance in the kingdom of Christ!

Colossians 3:5 – Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Ephesians 5:5 – For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Hebrews 13:5 – ­[Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

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.

Exodus 20:17 – Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour’s.

1 John 2:15-17 – Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 Timothy 6:9-10 – But 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. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

James 4:2 – Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

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.

Ephesians 5:3 – But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for everything I already have, all of which You provided. Convict and lead me to be a good steward of all You’ve given me, knowing I will give full account to You on that Day. Thank You my LORD, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Thankfulness | Discipleship

From Todd:

Father, in the name of Jesus, please forgive my sins of covetousness and discontentment, which are an indictment upon You as my Father, a way of saying You haven’t provided and opened the doors yet that I selfishly desired to be opened. Please forgive this sin on my part and bless this heart to be still and content in Thee O LORD. Thank YOU for all You’ve so wonderfully, graciously provided and most of all, the unspeakable, unfathomable gift of Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ. I love You and have everything in You LORD Jesus! In Jesus’ name, amen.

It’s a blessing to know from God’s Word that thankfulness always displaces discontentment….. When the LORD quickened this truth in me by His Spirit and Word, I began to forthrightly, regardless of how bad I was feeling, speak forth gratefulness, and thanksgiving from my lips for all He’d already done … counting the blessings if you will, instead of accusing the LORD of being late on things I’d already been praying for…..Repentance from the sins of unbelief and murmuring were also dealt with during this time of God growing this disciple in His bless-ed grace. Memorizing Ephesians 5:20 and Hebrews 13:15 is highly encouraged.

Support | STORE | Podcasts | The Return of Christ | Stewardship | Where to Give and Where Not to Give | Fruit Abounding to Your Account! | Consider Your Ways [podcast] | Consider and Build [podcast] | Holes in Your Money Bags? [podcast] | Dollar Dialogue | Jesus Sat Over Against The Treasury [podcast] | Escaping Sodom! | Waste | Stewardship | Giving

Dollar Dialogue [podcast]

Holes in Your Money Bags? [podcast] Curing the Dilemma of Diminishing Returns. If we want to see Heaven’s floodgates opened, we must examine what compliance, what agreement, what obedience the LORD may be leading us to render. The Reason Your Bag has Holes in it [podcast] (below) YOUR own bank statement tells you exactly who you are. Matt 6:21 A financial investor takes your money and multiplies it for your last few years in this temporal life, right? In contrast, laborers for Christ take your support and multiply it for Christ and themselves for all eternity. In Christ’s eternal kingdom […]

Money, Material Wealth, and Riches

  “Hath nothing” vs “Hath great riches” “There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.” Proverbs 13:7 Who is the man who has “nothing” though he appears to have much in this world? Who is the man who has nothing in this world yet “great riches” awaiting him in glory? The clear proof that God is working in our lives, that we are truly following Jesus, is that we are becoming less and less vested in this fleeting, fallen world and gaining an eternal perspective (James 4:4; 1 John […]

Jesus Sat Over Against The Treasury [podcast]

WHAT is Jesus Looking at in Your Life? Jesus Never Changes because He is Divine and Eternal Perfection Read this account carefully: “And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: 44 […]