Covetousness
Covetousness;
There are seven (7) Greek words for, "Covet, Coveted, Covetous: Covetousness: Synonyms and similarities are, Desire, Fain, Lust, Jealousy, Envy, Indulge, to have Ardent affection for, and to be a Lover of Money.
Covetousness is an unreasonable desire to obtain which we do not have, or procure through unreasonable means the things of others. Why is this? Because people are not satisfied with what they possess. Those who covet have a distressing desire for the things of this world. They focus on obtaining worldly objects and success. This seems to feed their pride.
It is a vice which prevails upon and then pushes or works its way into a man's heart. It wears a sinister face. It Lies, deceives, cheats and schemes. Those who covet have a tenaciousness desire to keep, hoard, adore, glorify and sometimes worship the things acquired.
Why are certain worldly objects held in high esteem? Things such rare art, sculptures, coins, stamps, books, certain vintage cars, etc. Rareness seems to hold a high value to its owner and to the rest of the world. To possess a one of a kind item is viewed by many as being successful. That person is spoken of as being an outstanding entrepreneur and investor, regardless of how he had obtained the money.
What is usually overlooked is how it eventually and effectually bars one from God, and from the gifts and glory God has to offer.
At times covetousness may resemble virtue. The gain of wealth may appear to onlookers as a virtue. It bringing to a person a reputation of unwarranted glory, and esteem. Athletes today are a good example. They signing huge sports contracts worth millions. Many are looked upon as Icons, successful men who are to be praised and honored.
Yet on the flip side of the coin, a man who works hard every day, from 9 to 5, making 30, 40 or 50 thousand a year, may resent someone earning millions for chasing a golf ball around, or dunking a ball through a hoop, etc. This resentment is also a form of covetousness.
I have never heard of anyone confessing to the sin of covetousness. To covet is to desire to be unjust, because the sin itself is unjust. It can be cruel to its victims, hardening the heart of the perpetrator against those who have been victimized.
It is foolish to covet, it eventually destroys. It shows a certain contempt against God Himself. Covetousness is idolatry. the idolatry of the heart. It sets up material wealth as god, and places ones confidence in their wealth and success instead of God alone.
Consider the judgements that has been set up for the sin of covetousness. The O.T. Scriptures reveal a trail of destruction and death. Josh.7:21, Joshua took those who coveted, and "stoned him (A'chan) with stones, and burned them (A'chan's sons and daughters) with fire, after they had stoned them with stones."
Acts 5, We have the story of Ananias and Saphira who held out on the price of the sale of their land. Ver.3, "Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Ver.5, "Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost." The same end came to his wife Saphira.
We all know the story of Judas and how he complained against Mary for anointing the Lord with the expensive oil she possessed, and how he sold the Lord out for 30 pieces of silver.
Much of the Old Testament law was intended to counteract the spirit of covetousness. We can read about this in Josh.7. Read the whole story. Also,
Ex.20:17, "Thou shalt not covet they neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neithbour's wife, not his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbours."
1 Sam.15:3- 9-19, "The LORD commanded Israel to, go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass." ver.9, "But Saul and the people spared A'gog, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good. ver.19, The LORD said, "Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil (swoop down on the plunder,) and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?" Ver.23, "Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, He hath also rejected thee."
The seven Greek words for Covetousness follow. The word is used in both a good sense and a bad one.
1. Covet: Coveted: 1937. Greek is, epithumeo. To fix the desire upon, to desire earnestly, to long for, etc.
a. Genr. seq. gen. Acts 20:33, "I have coveted no man's silver." 1 Tim. 3:1, "If a man desireth the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work." Sequel, infinitive mode expresses the action of the verb. Aoris, is an indefinite tense, which expresses an action as completed in past time. Matt.13:17, "many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things." Luke 15:16, "he would fain (desired) to fill his belly." Luke 16:21, "Desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table." Luke 17:22, "The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man." 1 Pet.1:12, "things the angels desire to look into" Rev.9:6, "Men -- shall desire to die." Luke 22:15, Sequel, "With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you." Gal. 5:17, "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit." Absol. 1 Cor.10:6, "we should not lust after." James 4:2. Sept. for "lusteth," Deut.
14:26. 2 Sam.3:21, "desireth," Prov.21:10.
b. Spoken of unlawful desire, to covet, Rom.7:7, "I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." Rom.13:9,
"thou shalt not covet," compare with Ex.20:17, where Sept for, "covet," also Deut.5:18, In regard to a woman, to lust after, seq. gen. Matt.5:28.
2. Covet: 2206. Greek is, zeloo. To be zealous towards, as for or against, any person or thing, transitive verb, expressing action That passes from the agent to the object.
a. Generality. For a person or thing, and usually in a good sense, as of things, to desire ardently, to be eager for; 1 Cor.12:31, "covet earnestly the best gifts." 1 Cor. 14:1-39, "Follow after charity, and desire," and,
"Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy." Septuagint for, "envy," Prov.3:31. Of persons, in a good sense, as to have ardent affection for, to love, 2 Cor.11:2, "I am jealous over you with godly jealousy." Gal.4:18, "it is good to be zealously affected." Sept. for, "zeal," 2 Sam.
21:2, "Saul sought to sly them in his zeal to the children of Israel." Prov.24:1, "Be not thou envious against evil men." In a bad sense, to make a show of zeal, to profess affection for any one, to order to gain him as a follower, Gal.4:17, "They zealously affect you." Absolute. Rev.3:19,
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent," K.J.V.
b. Against a person, to be jealous of, to envy; Acts 7:9, "moved with envy." Absol. Acts 17:5, "The Jews which believed not, moved with envy." 1 Cor.13:4, "charity envieth not." James 4:2, "Ye lust and have not," literally ye kill and envy, as ye have heart-burnings even so as to kill one another.
3. Coveted: 3713. Greek is, oregomai. To reach or stretch out. In N.T. only Middle term meaning syllogism is one with which the two extremes are separately compared, and by means of which they are brought together in conclusion. To stretch oneself, to reach after any thing, and hence trop. to long after, to try to gain, to desire, seq. gen. Heb.
11:16, "they desire a better country." 1 Tim.3:1, "If a man desire the office of bishop." By impl.to indulge in, to love, 1 Tim.6:10, "the love of money -- which some coveted after."
4. Covetous: Covetousness: 866. Greek is, aphilarguros. Adjective. Not covetous, liberal, generous, 1 Tim.3:3, "not given to -- covetous." Heb.13:5, "Let your conversation be without covetousness."
5. Covetous: 4123. Greek is, pleonektes. pp. One who will have more, as in a covetous person, a defrauder for gain, 1 Cor.5:10-11, Not to company with, "the covetous." and,
"If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, -- with such an one no not to eat." 1 Cor.6:10. Eph.5:5, "nor covetous man, -- hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ."
6. Covetous: Covetousness: 4124. Greek is, pleonexia. pp. "a having more." as in a larger portion, advantage, superiority. In N.T. past particle, expresses completed action. "The will to have more," as in covetousness, greediness for gain, which leads a person to defraud others. Mark 7:22, as in covetous thoughts, plans of fraud and extortion. Luke 12:15, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness." Rom.1:29, "being filled with all unrighteousness, -- covetousness." Eph.4:19, "greediness." Eph.5:3. Col.3:5, "Covetousness, which is idolatry." 1 Thes.
2:5, "A cloke of covetousness." 2 Cor.9:5, "The same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness." as in a bounty on your part and not as covetousness on ours, not as extortion by us from you. Sept. for, "covetousness," Jer.22:17, "Thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness." Hab.2:9, "Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house."
7. Covetous: 5366. Greek is, philarguros. Adjective, Money-loving, covetous, Luke 16:14, "Pharisees also, who were covetous." 2 Tim.3:2, "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, etc."
Thank you,
Phil LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com