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Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9–10
D.L. MOODY
Notice that the covetous are named between thieves and drunkards. We lock up thieves and have no mercy on them. We loathe drunkards, and consider them great sinners against the law of God as well as the law of the land. Yet there is far more said in the Bible against covetousness than against either stealing or drunkenness.
ERWIN LUTZER
In the Bible, money is always presented as the most seductive competitor for our hearts. It competes with God for our loyalty, commitment, and security. Money makes all of the same promises that God does. Money says, “I will be with you during hard times. I’ll be there when you are sick and when you are well; I’ll be there to feed you, to clothe you, to give you an inheritance so you can have a wonderful retirement.”
Yet, as Moody said, because covetousness is primarily an internal matter of the heart, there are no penalties against it. It’s easy for this particular sin to grow in our hearts without us detecting it. There is only one way to overcome it: be a generous giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). We should be generous because Christ has been merciful and generous to forgive us, to make us heirs of God and joint heirs with Himself. After all, it is not our money, we are only stewards of what God gave us.
PRAYER
Father, help me to acknowledge that all I have belongs to you. May I hold all that I have in an open generous hand, asking you to root covetousness from my heart.REFLECTION QUESTIONS
Do you find it difficult to hold your finances out to God with an open hand? If so, why do you think that is?
Read Mathew 6:19-21. Why should you not focus on earthly wealth?