Be Not Deceived

By Dan Bailey

Be Not Deceived — (I Corinthians 6:9-11 —Article #6)

"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

Both the Old and New Testaments warn us about the sin of covetousness. It must be a very common sin since there are so many warnings in the Bible about it. In Hebrews 13:5-6 we read, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." There are many proverbs that warn us concerning riches and covetousness.

Consider the following:

Proverbs 15:16 — "Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith."

Proverbs 16:8 — "Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right."

Proverbs 23:4-5 — "Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven."

Psalm 37: 16 — "A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked."

The covetous man is often defined as "a lover of money." He can never have enough. The covetous man is not a generous, sharing man. He hoards his wealth and then worries about it continually. He is never satisfied nor content. A man can also covet one particular possession that belongs to another. Herod coveted Herodias, the wife of Philip, his brother. David lusted after and coveted Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, even though David had seven wives at the time. Paul warns us about covetousness. "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them"(Colossians 3:5-7). It is clear that the covetous man has a strong, inordinate desire for the things of this world. John warns us, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him" (I John 2: 15).

What amazes me the most about covetousness is that so few people recognize it, or admit that they are covetous! Do you love money? Are you selfish? Are you content with the blessings that you have received from God? Do you have to purchase everything you desire? Do you covet the possessions of others? Are you laying up treasures upon earth or in heaven?

Let us learn to depend upon God for all things. In every circumstance of life, let us trust in God first, foremost, and always. And let us be generous and share the blessings that we have. "Give and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again" (Luke 6:38).