Overcoming Covetousness
Covetousness is a matter of the heart and, like pride and selfishness,
often goes unnoticed, which is why it can be so deadly and deceiving.
It’s hard enough overcoming sins that are obvious: lying, adultery,
stealing, idolatry, Sabbath breaking. But these are outward acts, things
that we have to think about before we do them. But to overcome wrong
thoughts themselves? That gets tough.
Read 1 Corinthians 10:13. What promise is given here, and why is this
so important to understand in the context of covetousness?
How then, in God’s power, can we be protected against this danger-
ously deceptive sin?
1. Make a decision to serve and depend on God and to be a part of
His family. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve; . . . but as for me
and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15).
2. Be daily in prayer and include Matthew 6:13, “Lead us not into
temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the
power, and the glory, for ever.” When feeling covetous of something
that you know you should not have, pray over it, claiming promises in
the Bible for victory, such as 1 Corinthians 10:13.
3. Be regular in Bible study. “Your word I have hidden in my heart,
that I might not sin against You” (Ps. 119:11, NKJV).
Jesus tackled the human/sin problem. He was tempted on every point
that we are tempted on. And for power to resist, He spent whole nights
in prayerful communion with His Father. And Jesus didn’t leave this
earth until He had both forged the way by example and then promised
power to make it possible for every person to live a life of faith and
obedience—to develop a Christlike character.
“Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He
is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his
thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him;
and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isa. 55:6, 7, NKJV).
What, if any, have been the consequences in your own life from
covetousness? What lessons have you learned? What might you
still need to learn from them?
