First Read Joshua 6:16-19; 7:1-26Achan’s tent (dwelling place), livestock, possessions, and children were cursed by the lust of the eyes and coveteousness. The consequence that Achan, his children, and possessions were first stoned and then burned.
Covetousness builds a nest and begins multiplying, the same way that foxes have holes and birds have nests (Luke 9:58) – when, through our disobedience, we make a dwelling place (nest) for the devil, the curse begins to multiply (make babies) and enlarge its possessions…
NOTE: “which the LORD shall take” likely indicates casting of the lot Urim and Thummim in the Breastplate of Judgement over the high priests heart [Exodus 28:15, 30; Num. 27:21; Prov. 16:33; Jos. 14:1-2; 18:6]. Numbers 32:23b be sure your sin will find you out
Coveteousness is sin
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.
Deuteronomy 5:21 Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbour’s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbour’s house, his field, or his manservant, or his maidservant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
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. [did not know that lust was sin except the law 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. [Moral law re-affirmed in New Testament]
Coveteousness is widespread
Jeremiah 6:13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. [corrupts even those who are supposed to be spiritual leaders]
1 Corinthians 5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
Lucifer, in selfish pride, coveted God’s throne
Isaiah 14:12-14 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Sign of the times
Romans 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
1 Timothy 6:10 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.
2 Timothy 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2 Peter 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
The Wicked, motivated by coveteousness, encourage covetousness and use
your coveteousness to entrap you
Psalms 10:3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire [lust], and blesseth [flatters] the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
Ezekiel 33:31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
2 Peter 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. [it’s a trap!]Covetousness [a.k.a materialism, consumerism] is a trap! To make merchandise of you, the strategy of modern marketing and advertising is all about making you dissatisfied with what you have and making you desire [gotta have!] something you don’t have. You have a perceived need and craving that makes you act on impulse (bypass the judge at the gate) and gets you to spend money you don’t have (debt) on something you don’t need, is not worth what you paid (or owe), and can’t afford to keep. Once you get it, you no longer want it and immediately want something else…
Coveteousness motive for violence and oppression
Jeremiah 22:17 But thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness, and for to shed innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.
Micah 2:2 And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.
Luke 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. [suppress the truth in unrighteousness]
Consequences
Habakkuk2:9 Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil! [Coveting motivates evil covetousness (unjust gain). Don’t think that you can escape the flood of evil consequences by building a house high on a hill, or a high walled castle using unjust gain]
Jeremiah 8:10 Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. [God will leave them destitute]
Isaiah 57:17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.
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.
1 Corinthians 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Coveteousness is a heart infection
Mark 7:20-23 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Believers are not to covet
Acts 20:33 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.
1 Timothy 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1 Thessalonians 2:5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Cure for Covetousness
Colossians
3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;
fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence [lustful fantasies], and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Proverbs 28:16 The prince that wanteth [is lacking] understanding is
also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
Exodus 18:21 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. [do not have fellowship/hang out with covetousness people]
Change your focus
Psalms 119:36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. [fill your heart with God’s word]
Proverbs 21:26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not. [generosity, put others before self]
1 Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best [spiritual] gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way [charity].
1 Corinthians 14:39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
Luke 12:15 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.
Luke 12:31-34 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Contentment
Luke 3:1-18 …Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages…
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.
Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
1 Timothy 6:5-11 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But 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 raiment let us be therewith content.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.But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Thankfulness
Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [consequence of not being thankful]
Ephesians 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient [proper/appropriate]: but rather giving of thanks.
Leviticus 22:29 And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will.
1 Chronicles 23:30 And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even;
Psalms 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
Psalms 26:7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
Psalms 30:12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
Psalms 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
Psalms 92:1 It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:
Psalms 116:17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
Jesus gave thanks
Matthew 15:36 And he [Jesus] took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. [Mark 8:6; John 6:11; John 6:23; Luke 22:19; Acts 27:35; Rom 14:6; 1Cor 11:24]
Matthew 26:27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; [Mark 14:23; Luke 22:17]
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
Psalms 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Psalms 95:2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
Psalms 140:13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.
2 Corinthians 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
The yoke of covetousness offers no peace or rest, with Jesus we have need of nothing and find rest
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful
Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.