Open Heavens 28 July 2016:
Thursday daily devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye – thou shalt not covet
Memorise: But fornications, and all uncleanness, or covetousness,
let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Ephesians 5:3
Read: Ephesians 5:3-7, (KJV)
5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness,
let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean
person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the
kingdom of Christ and of God.
5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of
these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Bible in one year: 1st Timothy 1-6, Psalms 21
Bible in one year: 1st Timothy 1-6, Psalms 21
MESSAGE
Today, we will examine one of the
Ten Commandments; covetousness. The sin of covetousness is a cluster of many
sins that sets man against his Maker. Upon the sin of covetousness hangs many
other sins like stealing, sexual immorality and murder, hence the law:
“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt
not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor
his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neigbour’s.”
Exodus 20:17
David, a God-fearing soldier,
king and prophet fell because of covetousness. He coveted Bathsheba, his
soldier’s wife; and went from one form of sin to another. Covetousness led him
to adultery and adultery led him to a murderous act. When someone is caught in
the sin of covetousness in the area of alcohol, he gets drunk and what next?
Foolish taking and jesting that are not convenient become inevitable. The Bible
says:
“Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it
giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it
biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. Thine eyes shall behold
strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.”
Coveting your neighbour’s
possession can lead to murder. The reason for this is that when someone covets
his neighbour’s estate, and is unable to get it, he may resolve to kill the
rightful owner to have it. This was the case in Ahab and Naboth’s story (1st
Kings 21:1-16). Ahab organised a feast where Naboth should be framed
up and killed by the scheme of his wife, Jezebel. Immediately the plan was
hatched, the Lord sent His prophet to go and deliver His judgement upon Ahab.
It was a judgement of vengeance.
“… Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken
possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the
place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even
thine.”
1st Kings 21:19
Beloved, let us beware of the sin
of covetousness as Jesus warned in Luke 12:15-20. The man in that story was
boasting about what he possessed but that same night God required his soul from
him. Our Lord then asked who those things he had acquired shall be for. Think
about it and you will discover that covetousness is not worth it after all. (28
July 2016 open heavens)
Action Point
Think of those things that entice you to acts of covetousness, pray
and avoid being possessed by them.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional, written by Pastor E.A
Adeboye
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