The Sin of Covetousness - Jeremiah 6-8 and I Timothy 5
I believe that the sin of covetousness is much worse than we, as Americans, think it is. Jeremiah pointed to covetousness as being one of the foundational sins of God's people before the exile. God was telling them and us that covetousness leads us to commit other sins. Today, we don't use the word covetousness very much. We call it greed or materialism. It is the sin of wanting more and more material possessions. It is the sin of being selfish and caring more for things than people. Just think of all the problems caused by covetousness. Once we give in to covetousness, money becomes our god, and we are guilty of idolatry. We do not show love to our neighbor because of our greed. We neglect to do God's will because we are too busy focusing on our own pleasure. That was true in Jeremiah's day, and it is true today. God hates covetousness. He said so in the ten commandments, and He has not changed His mind.
Paul was exhorting Timothy about how to treat the members of his church. He gave him extensive instructions on taking care of widows and then, he told him about honoring the elders. It seems that Paul was saying that the church should take care of any widow over 60, who did not have family to support her, and who was a godly Christian lady. How many churches do you know that have a widows list, and they do just what Paul says here? I do not know very many, myself. Why is that the case? At least part of the problem is covetousness. People today are caught up in materialism and greed to the point that not nearly all Christians tithe, and even less give sacrificially to special needs. Therefore, there is no money for widows and orphans. Also, churches can be guilty of covetousness. The church can spend its money on things, instead of people. We must learn that all of the money is God's money, and we are stewards. He is never pleased with us when we use our money for something He would not use it for. I urge all of us to consider the effects of covetousness in our lives and to repent of this sin, before it causes terrible consequences in our lives.
Tomorrow, I Intend to read Jeremiah 9-11 and I Timothy 6.
Paul was exhorting Timothy about how to treat the members of his church. He gave him extensive instructions on taking care of widows and then, he told him about honoring the elders. It seems that Paul was saying that the church should take care of any widow over 60, who did not have family to support her, and who was a godly Christian lady. How many churches do you know that have a widows list, and they do just what Paul says here? I do not know very many, myself. Why is that the case? At least part of the problem is covetousness. People today are caught up in materialism and greed to the point that not nearly all Christians tithe, and even less give sacrificially to special needs. Therefore, there is no money for widows and orphans. Also, churches can be guilty of covetousness. The church can spend its money on things, instead of people. We must learn that all of the money is God's money, and we are stewards. He is never pleased with us when we use our money for something He would not use it for. I urge all of us to consider the effects of covetousness in our lives and to repent of this sin, before it causes terrible consequences in our lives.
Tomorrow, I Intend to read Jeremiah 9-11 and I Timothy 6.