EFFECTS OF COVETOUSNESS

What Is Covetousness? "Covet after" – "to stretch one’s self, reach after a thing, with special reference to the thing or object desired, hence, to long after, try to gain." "Covetousness" - "a having more; the will to have more (e.g. a larger portion, advantage, superiority.) In plural, covetous thoughts, plans of fraud and extortion."

Exodus 20:17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."

Romans 13:8-9 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

EFFECTS OF COVETOUSNESS Blunts the Sensitive Nerve of Love

Jude 10-11 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

Jude 12-13 These are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

EFFECTS OF COVETOUSNESS Blunts the Sensitive Nerve of Love Blurs the Picture of Life

Colossians 4:14 Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you.

Philemon 23-24 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.

2 Timothy 4:10 Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica--Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia.

1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

James 4:15-17 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

EFFECTS OF COVETOUSNESS Blunts the Sensitive Nerve of Love Blurs the Picture of Life Banishes the Fruit of Generosity

Matthew 13:22 "Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful."

Luke 8:14 "Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity."

1 John 3:17 But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

EFFECTS OF COVETOUSNESS Blunts the Sensitive Nerve of Love Blurs the Picture of Life Banishes the Fruit of Generosity Breeds the Worm of Discontent

1 Timothy 6:3-5 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

2 Timothy 3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

1 Timothy 6:6-8 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

Philippians 4:11-12 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

EFFECTS OF COVETOUSNESS Blunts the Sensitive Nerve of Love Blurs the Picture of Life Banishes the Fruit of Generosity Breeds the Worm of Discontent Burdens the Spirit with Sorrow

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

EFFECTS OF COVETOUSNESS Blunts the Sensitive Nerve of Love Blurs the Picture of Life Banishes the Fruit of Generosity Breeds the Worm of Discontent Burdens the Spirit with Sorrow Blinds the Eyes to the Beauty of Christ

Luke 18:18-20 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?“ So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother.' "

Luke 18:21-22 And he said, "All these things I have kept from my youth." So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

Luke 18:23-24 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!"

EFFECTS OF COVETOUSNESS Blunts the Sensitive Nerve of Love Blurs the Picture of Life Banishes the Fruit of Generosity Breeds the Worm of Discontent Burdens the Spirit with Sorrow Blinds the Eyes to the Beauty of Christ Blasts the Devotee with Misery

1 Timothy 6:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.