COVETOUSNESS AND ITS DEADLY END

 ANCHOR OF LIFE DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

SATURDAY, 23RD APRIL, 2022

Author: PASTOR DR. SAMUEL AYORINDE

General Overseer

TOPIC: COVETOUSNESS AND ITS DEADLY END

MEMORIZE: "“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."” — Hebrews 13:5 NKJV

SCRIPTURE READING: 2 Kings 5:20-27.

“20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, "Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him." 21 So Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him, and said, "Is all well?" 22 And he said, "All is well. My master has sent me, saying, 'Indeed, just now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the mountains of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of garments.'" 23 So Naaman said, "Please, take two talents." And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and handed them to two of his servants; and they carried them on ahead of him. 24 When he came to the citadel, he took them from their hand, and stored them away in the house; then he let the men go, and they departed. 25 Now he went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, "Where did you go, Gehazi?" And he said, "Your servant did not go anywhere." 26 Then he said to him, "Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? 27 "Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever." And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow.”

EXPOSITION:

Covetousness, by definition, is an envious eagerness to possess something. It is extreme greed for material wealth. It is reprehensible acquisitiveness, insatiable desire for wealth, personified as one of the deadly sins. Sin of covetousness is an age long sin with deadly end. It makes one not happy or satisfy in what he has but in others’ possessions. King Ahab has many vineyards in good locations, yet the only one belonging to Naboth behind palace is the one he was dying for. He became a murderer because of his covetousness. Right there he received his own judgment – 1 Kings 21:1-21; 2 Kings 9:21-26. Covetousness made Achan to steal what later destroyed  him. He was not contented with what he has, and would not obey the voice of God. He earned untimely death and total elimination of his family members. Joshua 7. 

Our Scriptural reading of today told us how covetousness destroyed Gehazi. Elisha possessed double portion of the spirit of his master, Elijah, it was also expected of him to succeed Elisha, but he got his ministerial assignment terminated half way due to his covetousness. He received leprosy of Naaman as the punishment for his covetousness. If he will bear the suffering alone, it would have been better, but even his generations yet unborn will bear it too. Elisha decreed, "Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever." And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow.” 2 Kings 5:27.

Be careful of covetousness, it can never satisfy your wants, rather, it will make you an enemy of God. Most of what we coveted after are things we don’t really need to survive in life. Envy and greed are the sponsors of covetousness. Be satisfied in what you have and make use of them to your maximum advantage. Whatever God blesses multiplies and bring joy, not sorrow. Whatever covetousness give us cannot give us lasting joy but sorrow at the end. Henceforth, desist in covetousness and be satisfied in who you are and what you have. If you desire any good thing, ask from God, if it is according to His will, He will surely provide it for you.

PRAYER POINT:

Lord, deliver me from the spirit of covetousness and its deadly end in Jesus name.

DAILY BIBLE READING IN A YEAR – 1 Chronicles 30 - 33

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