About The Covetous

Those given to greed can be found at any level of society. The bible makes no distinction as to social standing or race. All such given to greed will ultimately find themselves in conflict with God himself. They will not be innocent. Hear Solomon, “A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent” (Proverbs 28:20). This implies deceit and fraud as opposed to being faithful and reliable.

One conflict for the greedy and covetous is that they trouble their own house! Hear Solomon again, “He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live” (Prov. 15:27). Those who are looking for the quick fortune through fraud and graft will experience the above and more. They are a torment to themselves, bring strife and trouble their families, but are too dull spiritually to know wherein the problem lies. The wise person is the one who hates whatever is done to pervert justice.

The thoughts of the covetous lead them to a lack of blessings and not to prosperity! “The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want” (Prov. 21:5). The contrast is between honest steady work and rashness (Cp. Prov. 19:2). Their wealth will diminish: “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase” (Proverbs 13:11). Vanity here is wealth gotten by nothingness. Pay attention! There will be no blessing in the end for such who seek ill-gotten gain: “An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed” (Proverbs 20:21). Unjust gain or attainment is sweet at first but one eventually reaps what they show. Hear about this again in another way: “Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel” (Proverbs 20:17). There are a lot of people out there eating gravel!

Things can change quickly and such of a certainty find themselves in conflict with God. “The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted,” Solomon said in Prov. 10:24. Solomon spoke for God when he said, “I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; [27] When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you” (Proverbs chapter 1 verses 26-27).

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