Take heed and beware of covetousness

It is stated categorically; “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.’

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God” (James 4:1-4).

It is because our system is established and operates on Satan’s method of ruler-ship, Jesus Christ had to fore-warned us saying; “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).

It is quite evident that our society worldwide is controlled by mammon. Without money to solicit the services of a professional competent lawyer, it is almost inconceivable to find justice in a court of law, regardless of how much evidences and facts one may present in court.

It is quite apparent that without the power of mammon, one who requires surgery or treatment for certain diseases, sickness or accidental injuries may not be that fortunate to survive which somehow portrays God as one who favors the rich, and neglects the poor. Even our modern day preachers are inclined to portray God in this light.

But contrary to their prosperity gospel, the word of the Lord says; “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.”

“You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, you shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and the needy, in your land” (Deuteronomy15:7-8; 10-11).

We are admonished by the Lord to, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15).

The spirit of covetousness and pride is not of God, it originated from the prince of the power of the air, hence the reason why we have been duly admonished saying; “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world --- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life --- is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17).

Living through the COVID 19 pandemic should be a vivid example and experience to everyone as to how fragile and insecure the material things are and how we should be focusing on the spiritual aspect of life instead of the materialistic things, for what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? And how fast can someone leave behind everything he/she has worked and toiled for. 

But contrary to their prosperity gospel, the word of the Lord says; “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.”

“You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, you shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and the needy, in your land” (Deuteronomy15:7-8; 10-11).

We are admonished by the Lord to, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15).

The spirit of covetousness and pride is not of God, it originated from the prince of the power of the air, hence the reason why we have been duly admonished saying; “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world --- the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life --- is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17).

Living through the COVID 19 pandemic should be a vivid example and experience to everyone as to how fragile and insecure the material things are and how we should be focusing on the spiritual aspect of life instead of the materialistic things, for what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? And how fast can someone leave behind everything he/she has worked and toiled for.

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph