Covetousness

Covetousness is idolatry of the heart. It sets up material wealth as a god and places a person's confidence in their wealth and success instead of God alone. The O.T. reveals a trail of destruction and death for those who covet.

Joshua 7:21, Joshua took those who coveted, and "Stoned him (A'chan) with stones, and burned them (A'chan's sons and daughters) with fire, after they had stoned them with stones."

Acts 5, Scriptures tell us of Ananias and Saphira, who held out on the price of the sale of their land. Verse 3, "Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Verse 5, "Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost." The same end came to his wife, Saphira.

When we share our abundance, we demonstrate love. Let us plead the cause of the poor. Let's avoid the appearance or suspicion of covetousness. How few there are who can untangle themselves from this sin. This tree of wealth, greed, and self-interests bears much fruit for few and so little for many, but yet the fruit of this tree will one day fall to the ground and rot away. We are not to waste or neglect without injustice or sin. To be extravagant is to be thriftless, wasteful, and unfaithful; our conscience should reveal this to us.

Equality is not given to us at birth but is provided to us by the grace of God. Poverty is a temporal portion put into the hands of the rich. But the spiritual portion of God's graces to the rich is placed into the hands of the poor. Christians are to abound in mutual dependence, one upon another. I am not speaking of money alone but sharing all the graces and gifts given us by God. Pray that those with much will provide for those in need, and for those in need, pray for your brothers who have much.

Exodus 20:17
New International Version
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Philippians 4:11b I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances.


1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Covetouness isn't just limited to material wealth, as you mentioned. The Bible says we should not covet anything that belongs to our neighbor; that includes spouse, children, friends/connections, ox or donkey (a vehicle, in modern day), house, wealth, health, etc. All this can lead to negative feelings or at worst hatred, towards the neighbor is which contrary to the call to love. I actually think everyone is guilty of covetousness since we are human, if we are being honest. It is also worth mentioning that the commandment mentions neighbor. It is easier to covet someone closeby than someone far away (like Elon Musk or Donald Trump, for example).

i like this one, too-

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said:
“Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” (Heb 13:5)

i hear that in Greek, those are very strong "nevers".

Hebrews 13:5b - 6a

There is more to it than the tenth commandment.

Galatians 5:18-21
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, idolatry, witchcraft, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Gentiles are not under the law, hence we use the phrase, 'deeds of the flesh'.

"envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these"

"of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you"

And what's the law? Thou shall not, Murder, steal, lie, commit adultery, covet, etc.
Sure, we all have to obey the law.

amen coveting leads always to other sin like a bridge I think of David who began looking upon and coveting Bathsheba another man’s wife. This led of course to adultery scheming plotting lying and eventually ordering the innocent man’s death to cover his own sin .

looking at the events we can see a train wheras the engine became coveting and led to the rest of the story coveting seems to be unique in that it is a root that leads to the sinful fruits and commission of sins rather than being itself an action or commission of sin it seems to be rooted rather than a fruit being born

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭7:21-23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

ago commit adultery is an action but to covet seems to be rooted in the corruption of mankind’s heart and mind like the motive for the commission of e sins

Very strong indeed-


13:5
NASB  "Make sure that your character is free from the love of money"
NKJV  "Let your conduct be without covetousness"
NRSV, TEV  "keep your lives free from the love of money"
NJB  "Put avarice out of your lives"
Peshitta  "Do not be carried away by the love of money"
There is no VERB, again an IMPERATIVE is implied. The NOUN is a compound of

an ALPHA PRIVATIVE (which negates)

phileō ( the third compound with phileō since Heb. 13:1), to love
a silver coin

It means "not a lover of money." The problem is not the money, but the love of money (cf. Luke 12:15; 16:14; 1 Tim. 3:3; 6:10,17-19; 2 Tim. 3:2).


"being content with what you have"

This is a PRESENT PASSIVE PARTICIPLE used in an IMPERATIVAL sense. This is a key issue for happiness. It is a worldview that does not focus on the physical and the immediate. Contentment is a wonderful gift from God that must be accepted by faith and lived out daily (cf. 2 Cor. 9:8; Phil. 4:11-12; 1 Tim. 6:6-10).

"I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you"
This is a loose quote with two emphatic DOUBLE NEGATIVES, taken from God's promises to His leaders and people. God is with us and for us (cf. Deut. 31:6-8; Josh. 1:5; 1 Chr. 28:20; Isa. 41:10,13,14,17). Believers do not have to fear for daily provisions (cf. Matt. 6:19-34).

Shalom
J.

But what about the deeds of the flesh?

Paul said, your not going to heaven if you are performing one or more of the deeds of the flesh.

You can try to obey a law and be a sorcerer?

You can try to obey a law and be a factional Christian?

You can try and obey a law and be a drunkard?

You tell me how you interpret Galatians 5:18-21.

5:18 "But if you are led by the Spirit" This is a FIRST CLASS CONDITIONAL SENTENCE, assumed true from the author's perspective or for his literary purposes. Those who are led by the Spirit are not subject to the law (cf. Rom. 6:14; 7:4,6). This does not imply that Christians will not sin (cf. Romans 7 and 1 John 2:1), but rather that their lives are not characterized by rebellion (cf. 1 John 3:6,9).

"you are not under the Law"

No ARTICLE precedes "law" in the Greek text, so the word may have a wider connotation than just the Jewish law. Here, the law has the sense of a way of life used to approach God. Here again is the contrast between the two ways of being pleasing or acceptable to God: self-effort and God's free grace.



5:19 "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident"

Many commentators see several distinct categories in this list of sins. However, there is a unity here based primarily on pagan worship excesses. People reveal their true selves in their actions and motives (cf. Matt. 7:16,20; 12:33). The results of the Fall are seen in our lifestyle choices.

The KJV adds the term "adultery" to this list. It is only supported by the Greek manuscript D, Codex Bezea, which is from the sixth century A.D. It is also included in some Old Latin and Vulgate manuscripts. The textual apparatus of UBS4 does not even list it as an option.

Gal 5:18 But if you are guided and led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.
Gal 5:19 Now the practices of the N1sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control),
Gal 5:20 N1idolatry, N2sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies],
Gal 5:21 envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the N1sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.
Gal 5:25 If we [claim to] live by the [Holy] Spirit, we must also walk by the Spirit [with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage--our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit].
Gal 5:26 We must not become conceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another.

not be desirous of vain glory. +*Mat_20:25-27, Luk_9:46; Luk_14:10, 1Co_3:7; 1Co_13:3, +*Php_2:1-3, 1Th_2:6, *Jas_4:16.
provoking. See on Gal_5:15, 2Sa_19:43, +*2Ki_17:17, 1Ch_21:1, Pro_15:1, 1Co_1:11, 2Co_12:20, Php_2:14, Col_3:8, 1Ti_6:4, %Heb_10:24, *Jas_3:14-16; Jas_5:9, *1Pe_5:5.
envying. Gal_5:21, +*Psa_37:1, Pro_24:1, Act_17:5, Rom_13:13, 1Co_13:4.

J.

That is exactly how I read it. An inner regeneration generated by the Holy Spirit.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Sin is impossible when in Christ and walking with the Holy Spirit. A person cannot sin in this approach.

Just one question-if I may-do you hold to sinless perfection in this life whilst in the soma/body?
J.

Definitely not.

The flesh wars against the spirit, an inner conflict that never ceases.

At times the flesh wins and at other times, the spirit wins.

I really think the "seared conscious" comes into play here.

The believer may stumble many times, but he ALWAYS recognizes and confesses his sin. He doesn't redefine sin, and say that his sin is ok in God's Eyes. The Holy Spirit is grieved, and consequently the believer feels grieved in their spirit that they did something to hurt their Father Abba. You are SUPPOSED to feel bad when you disappoint your Father. We know He forgives us, but we should never get comfortable with sin.

Those that "practice" or say that their sin isn't really sin, should probably have a good heart to heart with God about who they are, and if they are really in Him. Because they run the extreme risk of searing their consciouses to the point that sin no longer bothers them. REGARDLESS what they call themselves or attend Church, or do what they consider good deeds.

Very dangerous place for a person to be.