Daily Devotional

Word of the Day

Distracted from Heaven's Treasures

He that loveth abundance will never be satisfied with increase. Do you believe that? It doesn't satisfy. It's not how much you have; it's how much you have to have it and how much you think you deserve it. You can have virtually nothing and still have the most covetous heart of anybody in the group. You say, "I may not have it; but I deserve it, and I sure don't understand why that clown has it!" Now we are judging God and others; our hearts are full of covetousness and hatred.

Colossians 3:5 says, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry." Covetousness is worship of self. Covetousness, which is idolatry, is not about the object that we're coveting; the real problem is our own heart. Idolatry is the worship of self. "I will ascend. I am worthy. God has not seen my worth, so I'm going to reward myself."

Covetousness is not just in the Armani suits, diamonds and furs alone; it's in anything. Some of us covet a different group of friends or a different social circle. So many singles just gripe all the time that they're single. We get this concept of who we are and what we deserve. It absolutely over-inflates our worth and devalues so many around us because we're looking at the temporal instead of at spiritual treasures. Very frankly, there's one spirit behind our pursuit of a relationship: covetousness and lust. We need to guard our hearts and beware of covetousness. Can you take some time and just look at your own heart and ask, "What is it that makes me think that about myself? Why would I truly think I deserve that?" Now, let me clarify. There is nothing wrong with liking to have the best. The problem is thinking, "I deserve that." Where we get into covetousness and envy is thinking we deserve that and someone else doesn't. Come to grips with what's in your heart and ask yourself, "Am I content? Do I know that everything I have is the mercy and blessing of God?" All you deserve is a devil's hell.

Are we rich toward God, or are we distracted by all of these other things that are robbing us from the treasures in the heavens? We're pilgrims here. We believe in God giving us abundantly all things to enjoy. But the key is God giving us. The emphasis is not on the creature--our enjoyment, our security, our worth--but on the need to be rich toward God--a right relationship with Father. The Scripture teaches very clearly that riches can take wings and fly away. "We are not to trust in uncertain riches," 1 Timothy 6 says, "but in the living God who gives richly all things to enjoy." You are rich if you relate to Him by faith. If you can rest in His promises, if you can say, "His presence is my treasure," then you are breaking that spirit of covetousness and walking in the spirit. Hopefully it will bring forth fruit that remains, and God will be all in all.

Lord, we love You because You first loved us. We can't love You unless Your love flows through us. There's no capacity in us to love because You are love. It originates with You. Now, help us to love You more, so that You would be that Pearl of great price. Give us another treasure, for that's where our hearts will abide. We will give You all the praise, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Previous Devotional | Next Devotional

• Subscribe to the Daily Devotional
• Unsubscribe from the Daily Devotional