Text: 1 John 2:16 NKJV

Further Reading: 2 Kings 5:20-27

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.

1 John 2:16 NKJV

MESSAGE

Covetousness is when your eyes can not go off a particular thing you hope you should have. Let me lay this straight, you cannot have everything, so you must learn to be content with what you have.

God in the old testament law says, “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.”
Exodus 20:17 NKJV

Covetousness is so dangerous that a man would have his wife or something and still be longing for another man’s. What such a person is doing is setting a serious platform for his fall. If you don’t want to fall, take your eyes off things that do not belong to you.

Covetousness is a symptom of a lack of contentment. The Lord already warned us Christian to beware of this evil.
And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Luke 12:15 NKJV

One of the many unique traits of a true child of God is contentment. The Bible says that godliness with contentment is great gain. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.
I Timothy 6:6‭, ‬8 NKJV

You must be satisfied with thanksgiving for what you have. After all, you brought nothing into the world and you certainly will take nothing out of it. You should not go about running about trying to get frivolities because someone else has them.

In Ephesians 5:3, the Bible says that covetousness, fornication, and uncleanness should not be named among you who have become saints of God. Take heed, lest that covetous eyes take you into eternal destruction.

Finally, learn from men like Gehazi, who got the leprosy of Naman the Syrian because of covetousness. Guard your eyes and be content with the little you have always.

REFLECTION

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

Always be content with what you have, because God has promised you Himself. Never forget that when you have God, you have everything. So be happy with all He has given to you.

PRAYER

Father, I make a covenant with my eyes never to covet anything that is not mine. Help me to always live a life of contentment.