"For I will stretch out My hand
Against the inhabitants of the land," says the LORD.
"Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them,
Everyone is given to covetousness;
And from the prophet even to the priest,
Everyone deals falsely."
~ Jeremiah 6:12-13
I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire.
~ Romans 7:7-8
Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief ... hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
~ Hebrews 3:12-13
Lest any among Jeremiah's audience thought themselves innocent of sin, he brings covetousness into the picture, to convict everyone, from least to greatest.
Covetousness led King Ahab to murder. Righteous David succumbed to adultery and murder because he first coveted. Even the Pharisee Saul—who scrupulously obeyed the commandments—would one day be forced to see himself as a sinner when confronted with the commandment, "You shall not covet."
Covetousness may be of another's goods or spouse, of another's attributes or advantage. It requires us to deal falsely with our neighbor, either to conceal our covetousness, or to perhaps gain what we covet. We also deceive ourselves as well if we believe sin does not occur before thought becomes action.
Worst of all, covetousness deceives us to believe that God has not granted to us all we need or deserve—that He isn't as good as He should be. And thus our hearts become hardened and idolatrous.
The Bible's comforting words are pleasant. The Bible's harsh words are necessary, showing us how to cooperate with the Holy Spirit as He makes us ever more Christlike.
Oh YHWH our Righteousness, apart from You we are utterly evil, no matter how good we look on the outside. Please wash us with the water of the Word. If necessary, scorch us with the Spirit's fire. Make us good and holy and pleasing in Your sight.
Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Yes, I want to be washed in the Word.
ReplyDeleteSuch a profound point, that b/c of our belief God has not granted us all we "deserve" our hearts become hardened and idolatrous. We create that hardening.
ReplyDelete~ Wendy
"Worst of all, covetousness deceives us to believe that God has not granted to us all we need or deserve—that He isn't as good as He should be. And thus our hearts become hardened and idolatrous."
ReplyDeleteWhat amazing and glaring enlightenment. If only more people could see the folly of covetousness and where the deceit comes from. It's a lesson, it seems to me, is stressed in each of our lives and sometimes over and over.
Ironic that while I was reading this the song I was listening to had this line:
ReplyDelete"I look around at what everyone has, and I forget about all I've got."