" . . . Take heed, and beware of covetousness." Luke 12:15
A man is either content or covetous - he cannot be both! One of the most prominent but least talked about sins of Christians is that of discontent! Such dissatisfaction is accompanied by an inordinate desire for things which God in His wisdom and grace has not seen fit to grant. Many therefore feed on the husks of carnal desire, with a resulting lifetime of frustration, who could be happily feasting at the King's table of satisfaction.
In Luke 12 our Lord had been discussing some very important spiritual matters, yet one of the multitude was so greedy of gain and so desirous of worldly "things" that he interrupted Jesus' discourse on matters of eternal import so that he might ask Him to settle a dispute about money! This occasioned Jesus' stern rebuke which is still so much needed today: "Beware of covetousness!" Worldly goods can never satisfy the soul; in fact, they are often the devil's snare by which he drags men down to destruction with their carnal cravings still ungratified. "A round world can never fill a triangular-shaped heart!"
A Quaker once put a sign up on a vacant piece of ground next to his house, which read, "I will give this lot to anyone who is really satisfied." A wealthy farmer riding by hastened to claim this property. He reasoned with himself, "I may as well have it as anyone else; and as I am rich and have all I need, I should be well able to qualify." When he asked for the lot the aged Quaker said, "And is thee really satisfied?" "I surely am!" was the reply. "I have all I need, and am well content." "Friend," said the other, "if thee is satisfied, what does thee want with my lot?" The question revealed the true covetousness that was hidden in the rich man's heart.
Let your walk be "without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have" (Hebrews 13:5).
"Bread For Each Day"
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