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HINDRANCE TO GIVING: COVETOUSNESS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28
2 Corinthians 9:5
Deuteronomy 5:21
 
“… that the same might be ready,
… and not of covetousness.”
HINDRANCE TO GIVING: COVETOUSNESS
 
Paul now warned of one sin that would hinder them from completing their giving: covetousness. This term “covetousness” points to an excessive greediness and a grudging stingy spirit towards giving. While the amount of giving was never an issue, the Corinthian Christians must take care that the gift did not appear miserly and insincere.
 
We can become covetous when we love our possessions more than God. Some think that they can be in two camps at the same time: loving the world and loving God. However, the Bible says that no man can serve two masters, for he will either love the one and hate the other. One cannot serve God and Mammon (Matt 6:24). Alas, in a world that focuses on getting rich quickly, it is so easy to put our trust in our perishing possessions. This causes our love for God to grow dim. When we do not love God, we will find it hard to part with our possessions. Consequently, our giving towards God will also be lacking.
 
The Bible also says that the love of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim 6:10). One way in which this evil manifests itself is in a person’s refusal to help those who are in need. “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17). In the case of the Corinthian Christians, it would be the grudging refusal to help the poor saints in Jerusalem. Take care not to have the same spirit. 
 
What then is the cure for covetousness? 1 Timothy 6:6 has the answer: “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” To be godly is to pursue after Christ-likeness. When we are walking close to the Lord, the things of the world will grow strangely dim. We will view possessions rightly in the light of the Scriptures: that the possessions are only useful if we use them to serve the Lord. Thus, this guards us from a heart of covetousness. Consequently, we will learn to be generous in our giving.
 
THOUGHT: Do I have a covetous heart?
PRAYER: Father, guard my heart from covetousness.

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