Bible Teaching

Calvary Temple Teaching Library

Covetousness Pt.3

Let's turn to Luke, chapter 12, and see if we can get a little more done this evening as we're looking at this particular subject of covetousness and being rich toward God. Jesus is teaching us in Luke 12 to be content with His sovereign provision, to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all of the necessities of life are going to be added to us. "Take no thought for what you're going to eat and what you're going to drink. Don't take any thought for how you're going to be clothed." This is amazing. The fashion craze is nothing new; there is no new thing under the sun. Jesus Himself talked about raiment and all of the pursuit of the fine garb. He said, "Don't you realize that Solomon in all of his glory couldn't be compared with the flowers that God has dressed? Your heavenly Father knows what you have need of."

Isn't covetousness, then, about a contrast between need and want? Isn't that what we're really looking at here: a contentment with our needs being met and a true relationship to believe that God wants us to have even our wants if He's the source? Now, let me put that in proper perspective. He gives us all things richly to enjoy. God knows what's in man; He's made us. He's not talking about the need to have a life of asceticism, to where we just live a monastic-type life (just the bare necessities, and anything other than that is sin). Nowhere in the Scriptures do you see Jesus or the Word of God condemning what we would call abundance or prosperity. The issue is always the source and the value placed upon these things. In other words, are they your possessions or do they possess you? That's the question we have to deal with as it pertains to this spirit of covetousness.

We left off with Ecclesiastes 5:10 this morning. "He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase..." Every one of us here would say "Amen" to that. But did any of you go home this afternoon and really search your hearts about that? I hope so. We would like to believe it; we know it's doctrinally sound. We say it this way. "You know, things won't make you happy." "Amen. But I'd sure like to find out!" This is the fallacy; this is the lie. It's not like you don't have anything. If things would make you happy--you have things. You say, "Yeah, but I don't have everything!" That's the point, isn't it? How much do you need? "Well, I don't need everything; I just need more and better." But when you have that, is that going to make you happy? "Yes!" Well, are you happy with what you have? "No, but that will make me happy." And we don't deal with the reality of this spirit of covetousness--the need to possess more, our gratification in it, and our worth that's in it. Lust cannot be satisfied, but godliness with contentment is great gain.

Are you rich toward God? Are you content? Are you just happy with what God's given you? If God is the source, then you have exactly what you need. Because He's given us spiritually all things that pertain to life and godliness, and He is no respecter of persons. Our needs are met. We've sought the kingdom, and everything else has been added to us. And to not be content is what we said is so dangerous; it's an indictment against God. "God's not fair. He hasn't given me what I'm worth." You have devalued God and over-valued yourself. So, we say that it's not stuff. "I don't need stuff. I'm not really looking for more stuff." It's vanity. If you love it, you're never going to be satisfied with it. He who loves silver will never be satisfied with silver.

1 Timothy 6--the passage that all of us know, that so many people misquote. The world says it this way. "Money is the root of all evil." No, it's not. The Scripture says, "The love of money..."

Reverend Ike says that the lack of money is the root of all evil. Reverend Ike says he does not believe in white power or black power. He believes in green power, the power of the dollar! One of the things over the years that I've liked about Reverend Ike is that he's not like these other cons. He's up front, man!

In 1 Timothy 6:10, Paul's says, "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." Now, remember what Paul's speaking toward here. The problem that he was addressing is this. People were equating personal gain (prosperity) with godliness. They were agreeing with this pagan thought: that if you're living right, and you're really godly, you will have abundance. That's contrary to what Jesus taught. It's contrary to the Holy Spirit's teaching here in the Pastoral Epistles. Gain is not godliness. Godliness with contentment is great gain.

So it says, "...while some coveted after, they...pierced themselves through with many sorrows." Do you understand what this spirit is going to do to you? It's going to destroy you. It's going to pierce you through. It's going to bring you desolation. It's going to bring you sorrow. We're not just speaking here of something that is of consequence to where you might be a little depressed if you don't get what you're looking for. That spirit of covetousness--the need for more, the worth in more, the false god of self, the idolatry of worshiping and believing that you deserve--will pierce you through, Paul says by the Spirit, with many sorrows. The greatest, of course, is never being at peace, never being able to enjoy the peace and the presence of God.

Proverbs says it this way. Look over at Proverbs 15:27. "He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house..." You see, it's not just you. You're going to kill your kids; they're going to imbibe that same spirit. If you're discontent, they're going to be discontent. If you're covetous and your life is full of avarice, their lives are going to be. You can teach them all you want, but they're going to be what you are. And the Scripture makes it very clear. "He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live." Now, of course, this is speaking of being able to be bought off and compromising our righteousness to vaunt ourselves, to vie for position, or to be gratified. But you need to understand that this is not a personal sin. Greed and covetousness don't affect just you. It affects your house, those that are around you. So, what is it that we're really teaching in this pursuit of God?

We talk about so many different aspects of the danger of this heart of covetousness. And most of us would like to think that we have sufficient to deal with this. We would like to think that we're the ones who are more able to handle this power. But basically, in the natural, it's almost irresistible. We need to realize that there's a great peril to the deceitfulness of riches. And it is a deceitful power. It promises much, but it never satisfies. It promises liberty and brings you into bondage. It promises to satisfy and, like drinking salt water, only creates an unquenchable thirst. We don't believe that, tragically, but it is the Word of God. It'll never satisfy you.

Job 27:16-17 says this. "Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay; He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver." The natural man is looking for this gratification, but God says it can only be done in the spirit realm. The just shall put it on. God's going to be the One Who will fulfill that Scripture that we've quoted so often but don't understand the true spirit of it, that "...the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just." So many of us quote that Scripture and believe that we can acquire wealth the same way they did. We try to use their same methods. We try to get in close to somebody who's got what we want. We try to do it through our own strength in the flesh and our own intellect, instead of absolutely letting God be the source. "God supernaturally gave me everything I have. I am a debtor to His mercy and His grace. I have nothing but that which I've received at the hand of the Lord." That would be great. We doctrinally adhere to it, but we don't believe it. There is no satisfaction.

Let me give you a couple of verses here. "For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God..." (Ecclesiastes 2:26). You see, everything here is speaking of God being the source. There's man's method. Man thinks he's going to be satisfied. Man's going to accumulate all of this. He's now going to be content. God says "I'm going to take it away from him, and it will end up ultimately with My children." Do we believe that? There are those who are just trusting in riches. But Paul says again, over in that sixth chapter of 1 Timothy, "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." This is all temporal. These aren't the treasures that we're to be working for. But we don't believe that. We say we do, but we don't believe that. "Well, how do I know if I do?" By our fruit we are known. Where your treasure is, your heart is. Are you rich toward God? That's the question at hand in this particular part of this study. Are you rich toward God? Are your treasures where thieves cannot break in and steal? Nobody can take your real treasure. Do you have that peace? If you're looking to the natural, you're going to be disappointed.

"For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?" (Proverbs 27:24). In other words, he's talking about the fact that God raises up and He brings down. Over the years, there's been such an ebb and flow. Many of the super-rich during the gilded age still have money. But many who appeared to have fortunes that would never disappear only have a name today. Vast fortunes take wings and fly away. There's the humorous perceived wealth (and I've spoken to it a number of times here) of the recent fad of the "dot-com" millionaires. These guys were saying, "Yeah, man! I'm a millionaire!" Somebody made the comment this morning. They said, "You know, some people think you're serious about Fords." Ah, naw, they're a good car. They really are. If you can't afford anything else, get one. Really, really, I can do this. I really can. No, the fact of the matter, I owned, for a number of years I owned Fords for a long time. I had a 1973, '76, '77, '79 Ford. And so, no, they really are. They're good cars. I have nothing against them at all. They're not bad. They work and all I'm talking about is just fun at picking from one to another that's kind of a part of what car people have done for years. So whether it's a Mopar, or a Ford, or a Chevy, it doesn't make any difference. I'd much rather have a Mercedes anyway. So, seriously, please don't think that - don't choose a car based upon my nonsense. So, let's go back to were we were. We're talking about understanding that - oh, that's where I was, these "dot com" guys, these millionaires. And they were driving Ford Escorts! But they could show you with their stock that they were millionaires. That's not money; that's not wealth. It's not something that you can trust in. Some of these people really thought they could. Now, you could if you cashed them in. But what was it that kept some of these people from cashing in at that time? Greed. Covetousness. Lust. They could have been real millionaires, but they were not content. How much is enough? Just a little more.

So, we're talking about godliness--God being the source--and contentment. Proverbs says riches are not forever. You can't trust in uncertain riches. The Scripture makes it clear to us that riches will take wings and fly away. So the question that we want to ask ourselves this evening is, where is our trust? Are you seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness?

Let's go back to Luke 12. I want to hit on a couple of things there and get back on course here for just a moment. In the parable that begins at verse 16, we have this man who said, "I have sufficient for many years. Take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry." Now, we addressed the fact that abundance is not sin. The fact that this man built bigger barns was not sin. Maybe I should take just a moment to qualify and say that it is sin if we don't apply all of the other biblical principles. If you're selfish, then it's sin. As a rich man, if you are not (according to 1 Timothy 6) ready to communicate and have a readiness of heart to distribute, then it is sin. If you don't realize that God was the source, then it is sin. So, don't make the abundance or the amount the issue. Make the trusting in it sin. Trusting in uncertain riches--that's sin. Speaking to your heart and saying, "Take ease and trust in this; it's sufficient," and not trusting in God--this is sin. But the possession isn't sin. The plurality of barns isn't sin. The bigger barns are not sin. It's the trust in uncertain riches. It is, as we said this morning, the fact that you are not rich toward God. Look at verse 21. "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself..." (emphasis added). We're talking about selfishness here. We're contrasting selfishness with honoring God, worship, spiritual wealth, and pouring out our lives for the kingdom. We're talking about being able to enjoy the blessings of God and not be in bondage.

Now, there's a fine line, and I just want to make a point. How many of you have ever driven into the mall (and it's not the busy time of year), and there's a car parked like 70 acres away? And we all know the reason. It's so that nobody will bang it, right? How many of you get angry at people who park their cars and take two spaces so that nobody can hit it? Does anybody here get angry at that? Well, you can be mad at me if you want! Now, I won't do that in prime areas, but I will when I'm parked far away. The point I'm making is concerning the fear. God gives us richly all things to enjoy. You can't enjoy something if you've got to park it 40 acres out, or if you've got to keep peeking out to see if it's there. What's that all about? If you can't afford to lose it, you probably shouldn't have it. How's that? I'm not talking about not taking care of our stuff. I'm not talking about being foolish. But if you're so fearful of it being scratched, lost, or whatever, it's no fun.

Greer drove the Ferrari over here to Chick-fil-A, and she almost had a nervous breakdown. We had to pry her hands off the wheel when we got over there! The fact of the matter is, when you're driving a car like that, and you have all the insane people that live in Sterling (with a cell phone stuck in each ear), and you don't necessarily want to have somebody run into you, it's not fun. So, do you know what might be a good idea? Get rid of it. That's what I'm doing. I'm buying a tank and two cell phones! It's payback time!

What is it? Is it an idol? Is it something that possesses you or is it something you can enjoy? If God gave it to you, then enjoy it! And when it gets used up, then it's gone, and God will give you something else. These are just some of the things that we need to be free in--not being possessed by our possessions, being able to trust God and be rich toward God, not being consumed with all the consumables, and being at rest in the spirit.

Verse 22, "And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought..." How anxious are you? How much are you caught up about your image or about your lack? "I need this, and if I had that I'd be content. If this were there, I'd really be able to say to my soul, 'Take some rest; you're okay. The portfolio is in shape. We can now kick back.'" You can't make that much that you can trust in your own treasures! We've all seen it. We all know what the majority of your retirement is in, and it can crash like that (snap of the fingers)! And then are you still rich?

I love the story. I can't remember right now if it was Thomas Edison; I think it was. It was either Thomas Edison or Ford. But anyway, the story goes that he got a call, and they said, "You've got to come down quick! The whole complex is on fire, and everything is being lost!" He comes down, and they go over to console him, but he's sitting there and seems to be the most peaceful guy in the place. They said, "What are you doing? Everything you own is going up in flames! Do something!" He said, "I am." They said, "Well, what are you doing?" He said, "I'm enjoying this. You'll probably never see a fire this big again in your life!" Just seize the moment. If we could learn to live that way in the spirit, we would truly be rich toward God--if we would not be anxious for anything, but in everything with prayer and supplication make our requests known, if we would take no thought for the morrow. God is going to supply our needs, and everything else is a gift; it's sovereign distribution for His eternal purposes. Are you content?

Consider the ravens. God feeds them. Are you content? Consider the lilies. God clothes them. Are you content? "...[H]ow much more [verse 28] will he clothe you, [Here's the issue of the whole thing if you're uptight.] O ye of little faith?" (emphasis added). When He comes, will He find faith on the earth? We're living in a day when everything around us is telling us, "You have to have this; you're nothing unless you possess this." Riches take wings and fly away. These things come and go.

You know, I was repulsed as we were at that show yesterday. I used to like watching this thing, but I'm probably not even going to be able to watch it any more. This American Chopper Show--I thought it was funny. It's a dysfunctional family that builds motorcycles. But it was repulsive to watch the people up there, just screaming and worshiping these clowns. It's not these guys' fault; they're just seizing the moment and making a quick buck off all these idiots! But to see the worship, idolatry, and shallowness is just grievous. And yet, that's the spirit. For you, it may not be these motorcycle guys, or movie stars, or rock stars; but maybe it's a Gates or Trump. Who are your idols? Where are your treasures? What do you really need to be happy? Beware of covetousness.

Father, we thank You for Your Word tonight, and we just ask that we would realize the vanity of riches.

They take wings and fly away. You trust in them; they're uncertain. You love them; they cannot satisfy. "But God, but God..." Your Father knows that you have need of these. Why would you take thought? Why would you even worry for one moment, when you have a Father Who loves you, when you have riches in heaven? Many wealthy men are tormented by their riches, as to how they can retain them. Many of us who have worth in our things are so afraid that our things would be destroyed, or marred, or lost, and then what? How free are we to enjoy what God has given us? If God has given it to you, you don't have to protect it. That's how you guard yourself against jealousy with a spouse. If God's given her to you, you don't have to protect her. If God's the source of the relationship, then it's based on love, preference, and trust. We're going to talk about coveting other people's things, houses, lands, and wives. What causes someone to lust after somebody else's possessions? What is that appetite that seems to always be there? How do we destroy it? By seeking first the kingdom of God.

Make us rich towards You, Father, we ask in Jesus' name. Amen.

Let's stand before the Lord. We'll take just a moment as Gary plays for us. I'm trusting that the Holy Spirit was able to bring a truth to you. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be. Are you rich toward God? What brings you the most joy? I have a number of those supernatural treasures that God has given me, material things that do have an intrinsic value, but the worth goes far beyond that. And then there are the real treasures of relationships. Do you value your friends and your family? Those are gifts of God. That's what makes us rich; and yet, so often we just take them for granted. "Thou fool. This night shall your soul be required, and you have nothing laid up in heaven. You've had no reliance upon your Father. You've just trusted in yourself, in your own efforts."

Change our value system, we ask, Father, in Jesus' name.

Let's sing this together and just worship Him and be thankful. "Oh How He Loves You and Me..."

Lord, we do thank You for that love. It so far surpasses what we can imagine. We can't even fathom how much You love us. We don't even know what love is, but we've seen a shadow; we've had a taste. Your love is limitless; it's infinite; it has no bounds. It is totally selfless. It is for us. Then, why can't we trust You? You are for us--infinitely for us, omnipotently for us, omnisciently for us. Why can't we trust You? We just don't know Your love, Father, and we want to. Help us to understand Your love. Help us to receive Your love. And by trusting and resting in You, we are loving You back. I want to love You, Father, by receiving Your love, in Jesus' name. Amen.

Before you go, turn to somebody next to you and say, "Father loves you, praise God!" Go in peace; God's love go with you.

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