Meaning of Covetousness - Excessively desirous, expecially of something belonging to another; Greed
Covet - to desire that which is anothers.
 
Or you could say Covetous means "I want, I want, I want"

In todays society too many people are not happy with what they have or with what God has given.  If we get this attitude then we will be unhappy with our lives and God won't be able to satisfy us.

Lets look at someone in the Bible who was covetous and see what happened to him.  You can find this story in 1 Kings Chapter 21.  There was a man named Ahab.  This man was a king and he could have anything he wanted.  Ahab had money, prestige, and power.  No doubt he had a beautiful palace with all the nicest furniture.  Ahab had the best of everything.  One day he was out in his yard walking around, probably enjoying the palace grounds, and sniffing the flowers, when he noticed the fine vineyard across the fence. 

This vineyard was owned by a man named Naboth who inherited it from his father.  I am convinced Ahab had seen this vineyard many times and admired its beauty.  Ahab the king, who needed nothing, started to covet this piece of land.  Ahab went to Naboth and said, "Give me thy vineyard so that I may have it for a garden of herbs, or if it seems good to thee I will give you its worth in money."  Naboth  responded by saying, " The Lord forbade that I should give up the inheritance of my father."  After Naboth could not be persuaded Ahab went home and pouted.  He refused to eat, and did not want to speak to anyone.  Ahab could not get the vineyard off his mind and this concerned his wife Jezebel. 

Now Jezebel was a very wicked person and devised a plan to get Naboth's vineyard for her husband.  She wrote letters in Ahab's name to the nobles and elders in the city, saying to proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.  Then two others were instructed to lie about Naboth, and say he blasphemed God and the king.  After this, the people killed Naboth by stoning him outside the city.  Ahab wasted no time going to posses the vineyard after hearing of Naboth's death.

1King 21:16.  And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

But Ahab never had much of a chance to enjoy the vineyard.  As he was walking up and down the rows, planning how he would change the vineyard into a garden of herbs, he came face to face with the prophet Elijah.  God told Elijah all that had been done to Naboth and what he should say to Ahab.

1King 21:19. And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession?  And thou shalt speak unto him, Saying, Thus saith the Lord, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.

Elijah told Ahab, his family and wife would be destroyed, and exactly how it would happen.  Ahab could no longer delighted in Naboth's vineyard.  He tore his robes, dressed in sackcloth, and repented. Yet God did not change what would happen to Ahab and his family.

1King 21:29.  Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? Because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days; but in his son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.

If God is not first in our lives we will become dissatisfied.  A dissatisfied person will be unhappy and will covet. Coveting will also lead to other sins.  Jesus while here on earth talked about covetousness in 

Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness; for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Covetousness can be good when we covet to be more like God.
1Corinthians 12:31. But covet earnestly the best gifts;....  or covet the gifts that God gives that will benifit His kingdom.

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Email

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe to these comments via email (Registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment Preview