Covetousness
“Covetousness”
– is the Hebrew word “hamad” meaning to desire;
or “besa” meaning dishonest gain; the Greek word is “pleoneksia” meaning the wish to have more, in the sense of
inordinate/excessive desire for what one doesn’t have because of discontentment
with what one does have; to have/desire what belongs to others (Ex. 20:17) or
to desire wrong things – Vine’s An Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words;
Dr. L. Richard’s Expository Dictionary of Bible Words.
Matt. 6:19-21 What shouldn’t and
what should we do?
Why?
Which of these two are you engaged in, and why?
[Notice that it does not say you cannot save at all for yourself, as it
would contradict Prov. 6:6-8; nor does it say you cannot store up treasures for
other’s benefit, but rather to not store accumulated wealth for yourself.].
Matt. 6:24-33 What can’t we do?
What is one example of two conflicting areas of
allegiance?
What should be sought first?
[“His
kingdom” – is to have God as ruler over your life]. [“His righteousness” – is to do right as God
always does.].
What will that result in? What
are you seeking first, and why?
Mk. 4:18, 19 What chokes out the
word of God and causes fruitlessness in the lives of some people?
Are you being choked out of being a fruitful Christian because you are desiring other things or people that in turn are taking up all/most of your thoughts, time, energies, and availability so that you have little or no time for Jesus, reading your Bible, praying, evangelizing, and/or building up other Christians spiritually into Christ-likeness?
If so, what or who is coming between you and God?
And what will you do to change your priorities?
Or, will you rationalize your wrong priorities and desires?
Matt. 19:21-24 What did Jesus say that caused the rich young man to be
grieved?
Is the desire to have lots of money, an expensive home, a new or expensive car, or any other possession keeping you from following Christ (either as a full-time missionary or in just being obedient to evangelism and building up believers right where you are)?
Why?
Mk. 7:20-23 From where (what source) does coveting arise?
[“heart” – sin nature].
And
what is its effect upon the person who engages in it (vs. 20)?
Is this defiling/corrupting you? If so, how do you plan
to deal with it?
Lk. 12:13-15 For what should we beware
and be on guard against?
What doesn’t life consist of?
Where is real life found (spiritual life with joy, peace, and fulfillment even here and now)
– Jn.
What do you think life is all about, and why?
Lk.
16:13, 14 What were the Pharisees (Jewish religious leaders) lovers of?
Are you
like them, and why?
1 Tim.
Have you ever done this? Why?
Heb. 13:5 What should our character be free
from?
And what should we be content with? Why?
How or why should this motivate us to be content
with what we have?
Is this your attitude, or are you a lover of
money, and why?
1 Cor.
Is this too hard for you to do? Why?
Why is it not wise to spend much time with a
covetous person (1 Cor.
What must God think about our tolerating sin (e.g., 1 Sam.
Eph. 5:3, 5; Col. 3:5 What is a covetous person in reality?
What or who is your idol/god that you covet after,
and why?
Col. 3:1-3 On what should and on what shouldn’t
we set our mind?
[“things above” – eternal, spiritual things
like: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness – vss.
12, 13; joy, peace, and righteousness – Rom.
Why?
[“died” – to our old, non-Christian life and its control over
us to sin – Rom. 6:2, 6, 11].
What are your affections/mind set/fixed upon, and
why?
1 Cor. 6:9-11 What was the outcome
of the converted/regenerated covetous person?
On what basis did this outcome result?
Have you been saved/regenerated
from a life of covetousness?
Jn.
Do you ever seek Jesus and/or spiritual things (come to Christian meetings) because of the material gain, food, popularity, prestige, power to lead others, or authority that such knowledge brings, rather than because you want to know Christ better and do His will?
Why?
Phil. 3:18-20 What is the god of
some people?
Have you ever thought about the fact that your
appetite might be your god?
What do these kind of
people set their minds on (vs. 19)?
What do you often think about (e.g., food, cars, girls/guys, money,
evangelizing, etc.), and why?
What does God want you to think about primarily, and why (Phil.
4:8; Col. 3:1, 2)?
1 Tim. 3:3 What are a few of the qualifications
listed here that are required of an overseer?
[“pugnacious” – belligerent, combative. “uncontentious” –
not quarrelsome].
Are you free from the love of money? How do you know?
1 Tim. 6:6-11 When is godliness a means of great gain?
With what should we be content?
What do those who want to get rich fall into?
What is a root of all sorts/kinds of evil?
Are you guilty of any of the above? What should the
man of God pursue after instead?
What are you pursuing after, and why?
Rom. 13:9 If a person really loves someone, what
won’t he do?
Do you ever covet (i.e., want the things others have, that you
really don’t need, because you are discontent with what you have)?
When?
If you do covet, what does that tell you about your love for the person who owns the object that you’re coveting or about your love for God?
How can you deal with this situation?
Acts 20:33-35 Though Paul was a missionary and deserved to be supported by
others, what did he not covet?
Do you as a Christian, when serving others for
the Lord, covet payment for your services? Why?
2 Cor. 9:5 What was the giving of this gift
hopefully not to be affected by?
Do you ever allow covetousness to hinder you from following through on giving a gift to someone serving the Lord or to God’s work (to which you previously promised)? Why?
Phil. 4:11-13 Why doesn’t Paul
speak from want (what is lacking)?
Have you learned to be content in whatever
circumstances you are in? Why?
2 Tim. 3:2, 4 What three things will (and are) people be lovers (covetous)
of?
Are you guilty of being a lover of any of money,
and why?
What is one way to solve the sin problem of
covetousness (see Gal.
What’s
another way or in addition to being Spirit-filled that will aid in not being
covetous (e.g., Gal.