Lessons on covetousness

Luke 12:13-21

The parable of the rich fool is not about being mistaken. It is about covetousness which is insatiable and is also idolatry. Covetousness can seek to overthrow God and attempt equality with God like Lucifer, and Adam and Eve. The frightening potentials of covetousness are that it leads to inordinate desires and hurts others.

Lessons on covetousness:

1. Blinds us to the fact that life on earth is not forever and that we should live with a view to eternity
2. Blinds us to the contribution that God and others have made to our success - Ps 62:10; Pro 11:24, 3:9-10
3. Leads us to an improper valuation of the meaning of life - Job 31:24
4. Never allows us to enjoy what it earns

Ways to detect the spirit of covetousness:

• When our pursuit is for our enhancement as an end in itself
• When there is a desire for gain or riches beyond what is necessary for our want
• When we spend more time on material pursuit than spiritual and eternal matters
• When we are disposed to worldliness, to be better than someone else, to have more than them, and be more popular

Contentment is the opposite of covetousness; hence it is great gain – 1Timothy 6:6.