Covetousness

Envy

Jealousy

How are they connected?

Jealousy is the base emotion. Like anger has three levels so does jealousy.

Jealousy causes envy and covetousness. What does the Bible say on this topic?

DON’T DO IT!!

Don’t be jealous of others.

Don’t envy others.

Don’t be covetous of others.

Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, but who is able to stand before jealousy? Proverbs 27:4 (NK JV)

True who can stand before envy? Envy starts with tiny jealous thoughts and will always end with the actions of covetousness.

You can stare down an angry person, but who can stand against envy?

How many times have you walked away with your tail between your legs and ready to week because of a comment done by an envious person?

Why would you want someone else to feel that way?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)

Why not have love instead of CEJ? In other words, why not love that person, be happy for that person then be covetous over that person’s belongings, envy that person’s relationships, or be jealous over something in the other person’s life?

Love ignores the things man covets, man envies, and man is jealous of. Be charitable, not full of jealousy. Stuff is just stuff. Oh, she has a cat I want a better one. K… Go to a shelter and get one only because it is God’s creation to love and cherish not out of ugly jealousy. The cat deserves better.

Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:26 (KJV)

Do let your ego grow so large you have to attack others or think you have to have what others have to be happy. Happiness and contentment must be found where you are. Each day we need to be looking for the blessings and encouraging each other not living with CEJ

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21 (KJV)

Where does this say to be CEJ? We are to overcome and defeat CEJ! Are you going to let Satan win or are you going to let God? Take your pick. Blessings and Encouragement or a boulder on your heart?

Give me a desire for your rules, rather than for wealth gained unjustly. Psalms 119:36 (NET)

Our testimony is what matters not what other people have. Things are just things.

I want that car, cell phone, boyfriend, etc…

NOT GOOD!

What matters is that you the Christian have a loving Master that will take care of our needs and who is preparing us for our new home in Heaven.

A ruler who takes much from the people who have little does not have understanding. But he who hates wanting something that belongs to someone else will live a long time Proverbs 28:16 (NLV)

Ah, one thing we are to hate. We are raised not to hate, but they forget there is one thing we are to hate and that is what our Master hates. Our Master hates sin and covetousness is sin. Therefore, we are to hate covetousness.

The time is coming when all their captives will taunt them, saying: You robbers! At last justice has caught up with you! Now you will get your just deserts for your oppression and extortion! Habakkuk 2:6 (NLT)

How long before your covetousness catches up with you? How long before you put up such a wall that you are isolated from everything and everyone? From those that can make a difference in your life. From those whom you can make a difference. Most importantly from Jesus Christ who loves you and wants to hold you in his arms. Who wants to be in your life? Who wants to save you from sin and hell?

From that time on, Judas watched for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them. Matthew 26:16 (LBT)

Will you sell your soul to Satan? Are you sure? Are you sure from the very depths of your being? Do you covet you just might? You risk giving your heart over to covetousness.

So check your heart regularly to see if you have fallen into the trap of covetousness.

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Luke 12:15 (KJV)

This warning comes too late for many these days. But that doesn’t mean they cannot turn from it. Look at our churches these days. Some think they have to have that fancy cat, big house, or expensive clothes. Many people overwork to get a stupid promotion. So many put work and things before God and family. Many make excuses to not spend private time with God to go fishing, golfing, etc…? Are you one of these people?

Do not work for the food that disappears, but for the food that remains to eternal life–the food which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him. “Do not work for the food that disappears, but for the food that remains to eternal life–the food which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him.” John 6:27 (KJV)

This is how we are supposed to be. Our labor is to be towards the mission God gave us. Our labor is to be always growing stronger in the Lord. All other labor is in vain. Our income is our Master’s. Our things all belong to Him. He allows us to have things. But for each these things are different. Your car may be a Model T or Jalopy and your house may be a hut. Your house may be a mansion and your car a limo. No matter what it all belongs to God and is to be used for His glory. If it is a mansion find a means to use it for God. The same goes for the limo, Model T, jalopy, and hut.

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. Ephesians 5:3-4 (NK JV)

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5 (NIV)

Don’t give into sin, but instead give thanks to God for all you have.

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 1 Timothy 6:7 (NIV)

This is what matters. Being like Christ, depending on Christ, loving Christ, obeying Christ, and becoming one with Christ will bring contentment. Can worldly things do that? NO!

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

Do not even say you would like what another has. Do not even think it either. This only leads to being covetous and moving away from the Master. Instead of moving closer to our Master and keeping our focus on being good and faithful servants, we protect our hearts and our relationship with Jesus Christ… This will bring contentment, true contentment. This will also bring hope, peace, faith, love, and so much more.

Things or rather coveting things will only bring stress, discontentment, etc….

A quality relationship with God will bring love, peace, joy, contentment, and so much more…Covetousness

Envy

Jealousy

How are they connected?

Jealousy is the base emotion. Like anger has three levels so does jealousy.

Jealousy causes envy and covetousness. What does the Bible say on this topic?

DON’T DO IT!!

Don’t be jealous of others.

Don’t envy others.

Don’t be covetous of others.

Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, but who is able to stand before jealousy? Proverbs 27:4 (NK JV)

True who can stand before envy? Envy starts with tiny jealous thoughts and will always end with the actions of covetousness.

You can stare down an angry person, but who can stand against envy?

How many times have you walked away with your tail between your legs and ready to week because of a comment done by an envious person?

Why would you want someone else to feel that way?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)

Why not have love instead of CEJ? In other words, why not love that person, be happy for that person then be covetous over that person’s belongings, envy that person’s relationships, or be jealous over something in the other person’s life?

Love ignores the things man covets, man envies, and man is jealous of. Be charitable, not full of jealousy. Stuff is just stuff. Oh, she has a cat I want a better one. K… Go to a shelter and get one only because it is God’s creation to love and cherish not out of ugly jealousy. The cat deserves better.

Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:26 (KJV)

Do let your ego grow so large you have to attack others or think you have to have what others have to be happy. Happiness and contentment must be found where you are. Each day we need to be looking for the blessings and encouraging each other not living with CEJ

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21 (KJV)

Where does this say to be CEJ? We are to overcome and defeat CEJ! Are you going to let Satan win or are you going to let God? Take your pick. Blessings and Encouragement or a boulder on your heart?

Give me a desire for your rules, rather than for wealth gained unjustly. Psalms 119:36 (NET)

Our testimony is what matters not what other people have. Things are just things.

I want that car, cell phone, boyfriend, etc…

NOT GOOD!

What matters is that you the Christian have a loving Master that will take care of our needs and who is preparing us for our new home in Heaven.

A ruler who takes much from the people who have little does not have understanding. But he who hates wanting something that belongs to someone else will live a long time Proverbs 28:16 (NLV)

Ah, one thing we are to hate. We are raised not to hate, but they forget there is one thing we are to hate and that is what our Master hates. Our Master hates sin and covetousness is sin. Therefore, we are to hate covetousness.

The time is coming when all their captives will taunt them, saying: You robbers! At last justice has caught up with you! Now you will get your just deserts for your oppression and extortion! Habakkuk 2:6 (NLT)

How long before your covetousness catches up with you? How long before you put up such a wall that you are isolated from everything and everyone? From those that can make a difference in your life. From those whom you can make a difference. Most importantly from Jesus Christ who loves you and wants to hold you in his arms. Who wants to be in your life? Who wants to save you from sin and hell?

From that time on, Judas watched for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them. Matthew 26:16 (LBT)

Will you sell your soul to Satan? Are you sure? Are you sure from the very depths of your being? Do you covet you just might? You risk giving your heart over to covetousness.

So check your heart regularly to see if you have fallen into the trap of covetousness.

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Luke 12:15 (KJV)

This warning comes too late for many these days. But that doesn’t mean they cannot turn from it. Look at our churches these days. Some think they have to have that fancy cat, big house, or expensive clothes. Many people overwork to get a stupid promotion. So many put work and things before God and family. Many make excuses to not spend private time with God to go fishing, golfing, etc…? Are you one of these people?

Do not work for the food that disappears, but for the food that remains to eternal life–the food which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him. “Do not work for the food that disappears, but for the food that remains to eternal life–the food which the Son of Man will give to you. For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him.” John 6:27 (KJV)

This is how we are supposed to be. Our labor is to be towards the mission God gave us. Our labor is to be always growing stronger in the Lord. All other labor is in vain. Our income is our Master’s. Our things all belong to Him. He allows us to have things. But for each these things are different. Your car may be a Model T or Jalopy and your house may be a hut. Your house may be a mansion and your car a limo. No matter what it all belongs to God and is to be used for His glory. If it is a mansion find a means to use it for God. The same goes for the limo, Model T, jalopy, and hut.

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. Ephesians 5:3-4 (NK JV)

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5 (NIV)

Don’t give into sin, but instead give thanks to God for all you have.

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 1 Timothy 6:7 (NIV)

This is what matters. Being like Christ, depending on Christ, loving Christ, obeying Christ, and becoming one with Christ will bring contentment. Can worldly things do that? NO!

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

Do not even say you would like what another has. Do not even think it either. This only leads to being covetous and moving away from the Master. Instead of moving closer to our Master and keeping our focus on being good and faithful servants, we protect our hearts and our relationship with Jesus Christ… This will bring contentment, true contentment. This will also bring hope, peace, faith, love, and so much more.

Things or rather coveting things will only bring stress, discontentment, etc….

A quality relationship with God will bring love, peace, joy, contentment, and so much more…