3.  Our society is driven by covetousness (TV, movies).  Society measures a person’s worth and importance by worldly wealth; “He with the most toys wins.” Lk. 12:15  Advertisers spend billions getting us to spend money we don’t have on things we don’t need.  Legalized gambling is another symptom of the prevalence of covetousness in our society. 3 Average debt per household: Credit card: $15,480 Mortgage: $156,474 Student loan: $33,424

4.  From Greek pleoneskia a compound word:  pleon: “more.”  echo: “to have.”  Literally: “more to have.”  An unquenchable thirst to get more and more things in order to satisfy (?) ourselves. 4

5.  It keeps evil company: 1 Cor. 6:9-10; Eph. 5:3; 2 Tim. 3:2-5 (KJV) 5

6.  It defiles a man: Mk. 7:20-23  Covetousness is not a harmless attitude!  It stains a man’s heart and character from the inside out.  It defiles every aspect of our life and character, for one’s life proceeds from the heart: Prov. 4:23 6

7.  It is idolatry: Col. 3:5  Idolatry is simply putting anything ahead of God.  For a covetous man money and things become his god.  When we seek happiness in money or things everything else is pushed aside, including God. 7

8.  It provokes the wrath of God: Col. 3:5-6  Anything that provokes the wrath of God should get our attention and must be avoided! 8

9.  It is the root of many other sins:  Theft: Josh. 7:20-21  Lying: 2 Kgs. 5:20-27  Betrayal: Matt. 26:14-16; Jn. 12:4-6  Murder: 1 Kgs. 21  Depart from the faith: 1 Tim. 6:9-10  Brings suffering to others: Prov. 15:27 9

10.  Learn to trust God: Heb. 13:5-6  Contentment connected with trusting God.  Notice what contentment taught Paul: Phil. 4:11-13  The more money we have the better we think we’ll feel.  Faith is more than just belief: Psa. 37:25; Matt. 6:25-34 10

11.  Learn life is not about accumulating things: Lk. 12:15  The real value and worth of our life is not measured by money.  Life is about being a person of real character: Prov. 22:1; Matt. 16:26  None of these things can be bought with money. 11

12.  Learn to set our minds on the things above: Col. 3:2  As long as our mind is on the things of the world covetousness is a danger.  If we’re focused on heaven; our desire for temporary things is much less: Matt. 6:19- 21  How attracted to “things” are you? 12

13.  Learn to be satisfied:  Wealth brings as many problems as it solves: Eccl. 5:10-12  We don’t need as much as we think we do.  The peace God provides is much sweeter than what things provide: Matt. 6:19-21 13

14.  Learn to deny self:  Cannot serve two masters! Matt. 6:24  Covetousness is an expression of self- centeredness, selfishness.  Christians know better, but the lust of the eyes can be very strong!  We need a daily reminder concerning the real meaning of life: Lk. 12:15 14

15.  Learn to love our neighbor:  A vile aspect of covetousness is that it causes us to disregard the rights and needs of others.  It causes us to do our neighbor harm: Rom. 13:8-10  Covetousness is the opposite of generosity and love: 1 Jn. 3:17; Matt. 25:31-46 15

16.  Covetousness is not a harmless habit or blameless characteristics.  But you don’t have to be a “Donald Trump” to have a problem with covetousness; it knows no socio- economic bounds.  If we have a problem with it, let’s confess it to God and ask for His help. 16 Covetousness is: “…the sin of the man who has allowed full play to the desire to have what he should not have, who thinks that his desires and appetites and lusts are the most important thing in the world, who sees others as things to be exploited, who has no god except himself and his desires…” -William Barclay