The Way of God vs the Way of Self:
This brief post is about covetousness.
I was born again 14 years ago and it has since become apparent to me that I have several idols in my life at whose altar I too frequently worship, one of the chief ones is covetousness, especially of material things.
One day a few years ago, as I was reading through Ecclesiastes, the following verses stood out to me, and I read commentaries about them because they spoke about my idol of covetousness: Ecc 5:19 Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. Ecc 6:2 a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil.
Those verses basically indicate that God gives blessings and that He also gives the power to enjoy those blessings. And that He withholds which ever He pleases. I reasoned that since I am stuck in a mindset of covetousness of material things, that I was receiving the things of which it could be said these were blessings from God, but that I was not being given the power to enjoy them. Instead of being satisfied or contented, I had an emptiness that moved me to acquire more things, experiences…and I kept believing that the next object of my covetousness would give me happiness when I obtained it; all the while contentment has eluded me.
And as I have pondered this recurring scenario, I have begun to believe that my covetousness indicates that I am out of the way of blessedness outlined in the Bible.
Although I have regularly read through my Bible since being born again, I did not figure out exactly what the “way of blessedness” is; but learned of it via a sermon series by Albert N. Martin on psalm 1. Pastor Martin’s 14 part series (on Sermon Audio) clearly identifies that way; but also, the way of the ungodly; counsel of the ungodly; hindrances to walking in the way of blessedness…. The crux of his series is that the godly love God more than His blessings to them; and they hold the blessings He gives them loosely; also, that they stay in the Way of blessedness by partaking of His means of grace (hearing of preaching; reading the word; prayer; the Lord’s supper; and fellowship as noted in Acts 2:42). The apostle Paul did walk in the way of blessedness, according to his words in Php 4:11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. Php 4:12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. Php 4:13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
As I think on these things and observe my behavior, I have come to see that I apparently love things more than God; or to put it differently, I love God’s blessings more than I love Him. And that my covetousness could be a sign of His displeasure at my holding Him in such low esteem. Although I have thought this for several years; and I partake in the means of grace, this scenario continues to play out in my life. My covetousness may be at rest for several months, but suddenly, it will rekindle and I am compelled to buy this or that thing so I can be happy, e.g.
Because I desire to experience covetousness far less than I do, and to experience walking with God, I keep meditating upon this problem and looking for answers as I read through scripture. Psalm 119, which seems to be mostly about the pilgrimage of the born again believer, has some verses that talk about this sort of struggle:
Psalm 119 contains many verses that encourage one in his walk with Christ; that thank Him for all forms of guidance, including chastening; that cry out to be made alive and to be given understanding, by the word…but the two verses that speak most loudly to me on my problem of covetousness are verses 29 and 30 which I memorized in the KJV: Psa 119:29 Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously. Psa 119:30 I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
Consider the commentary of verse 29 from E-sword, Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible: “Remove from me – Take it from me; cause it to depart; let me not be under its influence or power.
The way of lying – Every false, deceitful, hypocritical way. We are not to suppose that the psalmist was addicted to lying, but that he felt he was, like all people, in danger of acting from false views, from wrong motives, or under the influence of delusion and deceit. It is a prayer that he might always be sincere and truthful. No man who knows his own heart can doubt the propriety of this prayer. On nothing does a man need more to examine himself; in nothing does he more need the grace of God, than that he may be sincere.
And grant me thy law graciously – The knowledge of thy law; grace to obey thy law. The single word rendered “grant graciously” is a word which implies the idea of mercy or favor. It was not a thing which he claimed as a right; it was that for which he was dependent on the mercy of God.”
These words speak to me in that I believe that my 53 years of worldly conditioning, or brainwashing, are still not undone by the truth of scripture. I see that scripture’s truths are changing me, but I have believed the way of blessedness held out by society for so long (outlined below), and I mix with people every day that still believe it, that letting go of it and committing to God’s Way of blessedness is being hindered by all my psychological baggage, that is, I still believe the empty promises of the world (lies). And, when I skip Bible reading and / or praying, I further slow this process of change, as pastor Martin emphasized in his sermons on hindrances that satan does everything he can to draw a believer away from reading God’s word and praying to God; Martin called these the roots that imbibe the water of God from that stream mentioned in psalm 1. Moreover, I apparently keep falling for Satan’s schemes because my belief in God’s way is weak, or imperfect.
So, of late, I have focused on praying these verses and to reading psalm 119 in part every time I read my Bible. God’s word says that our hearts are the problem (Proverbs 4 and Jeremiah 17, e.g.). I have been clearly shown that mine certainly is; and I am currently believing that I must keep seeking God’s enabling grace to walk with Him, and to starve my fleshly ways.
A couple of other verses that are of comfort to me in my fight against sin:
Psa 119:36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.
Psa 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Psa 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Psa 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
The way of blessing held out by our society: autonomy, independence; high standing among peers; riches; power; comforts; good job with lots of vacation time; lots of things; lots of pleasures and indulgences of every kind….
The way of blessedness held out by scripture: dependence upon God; poverty of spirit; mourning for sin; meekness; hungering and thirsting for righteousness; showing mercy; an undivided heart that loves God more than His blessings; proclaiming his gospel to establish peace; persecution by the world; in short, the way that takes up the cross, denies self and follows Christ.
Some Bible verses against covetousness:
Exo 20:17 “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.”
Rom 7:7 Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said, “You must not covet.”
Rom 7:8 But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power.
Eze 14:3 “Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that will make them fall into sin. Why should I listen to their requests? [much is said of idolatry and false prophets in chapters 1-14]
[I want to remind the reader that E-sword is free Bible download for pc, having numerous versions of the Bible; numerous commentaries and Bible commentaries; also Strong’s concordance. It is an excellent study tool for those who want to understand the one truth of the Bible; it is around $2 at the iphone app store.]