Covetousness: "(Heb. hamad, to desire; besa, dishonest gain; Gr. pleoneksia, the wish to have more), an inordinate desire for what one has not, which has its basis in discontentment with what one has. It has an element of lawlessness, and is sinful because it is contrary to the command, `be content with such things as ye have' (Hebrew 13:5), it leads to `trust in uncertain riches,' to love of the world, to forgetfulness of God, and is idolatry (Colossians 3:5), setting up wealth as a focus instead of God. It ranks with the worst sins (Mark 7:22; Rom. 1:29). Our Lord especially warns against it (Luke 12:15), as does St. Paul (Ephesians 5:3, etc.). A man may be covetous, eager to obtain money, and not avaricious or penurious, i.e., unwilling to part with money, or sordid and nigggardly, i.e., mean in his dealings. He may or may not be miserly."
Unger's Bible Dictionary
Merrill F. Unger, Th.D., Ph.D.
Moody Press, 1957
Oh, Lord, that our hearts would be so singularly after you that all else will take its proper place! Continue to draw us close; to persuade us that all the "more" that what we so often "need" will one day testify against us if we have not been content with that which you have provided. Lord, convince us of the certainty of your Word as preserved for us in Romans 8:32: "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" Thank you, Lord, for Your most Precious Gift; we know, having given us Him, You cannot withhold anything we need that is of lesser value. In this we can be content—for Jesus' sake and in His name.
