We shall make several statements:
Covetousness causes conflict.
Covetousness causes war.
Covetousness is idolatry.
Proof?
FIRST, look to history.
What has history shown us, so far?
Man wanted to conquer.
He wanted to dominate.
He wanted to be lord of all.
He wants what you have.
If he wants your resources, prepare to be duped.
Or invaded.
If his king, or queen, wants your country, prepare for colonization.
On the pretext of teaching the heathen.
If he is jealous of your economy, prepare to be sabotaged.
He will feed upon your labors.
If he wants your people, prepare to be invaded.
And enslaved.
SECOND, look to Scripture.
From the heart comes covetousness.
And all the sins associated with it.
Born from Satan, its father.
JESUS declared:
Mark 7:21-23
King James Version
21 For from within,
out of the heart of men,
proceed evil thoughts, adulteries,
fornications, murders,
22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit,
lasciviousness, an evil eye,
blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23 All these evil things come from within,
and defile the man.
Covetousness causes "war" within ourselves.
James 4:1-3
King James Version
4 From whence come wars and fightings among you?
come they not hence, even of your lusts
that war in your members?
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.
3 Ye ask, and receive not,
because ye ask amiss,
that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Man is never content.
Nothing can ever satiate his desires.
He is envious, greedy, acquisitive.
Proud, pompous, preening.
Deceived, deluded, divided.
Vile, vain, vitriolic.
Always wanting to have what another has.
Whether it be a person, a piece, or a property.
He simply has to have those.
He has this "urge" to possess, dominate, and acquire.
Expanding his property, possessions, and power.
Expanding his authority over all.
As far as his ego would take him.
Oftentimes, through any means.
Not caring for consequences.
Covetousness is "idolatry":
Colossians 3:5
King James Version
5 Mortify therefore your members
which are upon the earth;
fornication, uncleanness,
inordinate affection, evil concupiscence,
and covetousness, which is idolatry:
When man adores possessions, he worships a different god.
The covetous man is ruled by Satan.
Many may not want to admit it, but it is so.
There's only GOD, or mammon, to choose from.
JESUS pointed these things to us:
Matthew 6:24
King James Version
24 No man can serve two masters:
for either he will hate the one, and love the other;
or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.
Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Luke 16:14-15
King James Version
14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous,
heard all these things: and they derided him.
15 And he said unto them,
Ye are they which justify yourselves before men;
but God knoweth your hearts:
for that which is highly esteemed among men
is abomination in the sight of God.
A born again has no use for unnecessary possessions.
We make do with what the LORD gives us.
We are grateful for anything He blesses us with.
We look to how JESUS lived, and we emulate the same.
We are focused on GOD; not possessions.
We don't want to be "possessed" by anything.
All could be gone.
In an instant.
In these end times, we need to focus on these:
1 Timothy 6:6-7
King James Version
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.
1 Timothy 6:11
King James Version
11 But thou, O man of God,
flee these things;
and follow after righteousness,
godliness, faith, love,
patience, meekness.
1 Timothy 6:12
King James Version
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.
ALL belong to GOD anyway.
We are deluded if we think we own anything.
All is on "loan", for the betterment of society.
For the opportunity to love others.
For obedience to GOD's will.
It was never for self.
Chuck covetousness.
It never did anyone good.
It weighs our spirits down.
It causes unnecessary wars.
It keeps our eyes focused on Satan.
Who only cares we fall.
As he did.
Related material:
Being FREE of the spirit of war
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