“And he said to them, “Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions” (Luke 12:15).
Covetousness – to have more and more, to accumulate and hold, to multiply & Keep. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor” (Exodus 20:17). “But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints” (Ephesians 5:3).
Deeds of covetting – out of the the heart. “All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person” (Mark 7:22).
There is reason for coveting.
The foundational thinking is wrong. Life consists in my possessions. That is, what I have and hold as my own. Then I will continue to think I need to have more and more-abundance. Abundance of every material things.
Matter becomes all that matters. Today this abundance ramifies into many areas.
Education and degrees – in particular subjects, from particular university, more and more qualifications. Display them behind your name.
Jobs and positions, promotions- abundance of them.
Power and authority almost to become an autocratic.
Income, salary, attached facilities, additional perks, bank balance.
Investments, land, apartments cars, other material possessions.
Pride of life.
All these giving a feeling, I am secure, I have enough, I will have no worries.
To become rich and self sufficient, mostly at individual level.
But can be in collective sense, our business, our group, our institution. Collective covetousness.
Security in common fund.
Rich toward himself, selfishly possessing, purses that wear out.
To make more, to have more one will use different methods. All sorts of evil will follow.
Will wander away from faith. Pierce themselves with many griefs. Fall into many temptations and snares. Many foolish and harmful desires. Plunge them into ruin and destruction.
Stealing, murder, forgery, imprisonment. Will become conceited and proud. Fix their hope on riches.
So will not be able to enter the kingdom of heaven.
K.O.John