Saturday, 26th October, 2024
Bible Reading: Luke 12:15
Memory Verse: Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Luke 12:15 (NLT)
There is a spirit ravaging this End-time. It is the spirit of covetousness. Covetousness is the insatiable quest to have more either by hook or by crook. Covetousness is defined as eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth or possessions. Coveting is an ungodly desire for something that belongs to another. It can lead to greed, stealing, jealousy, envy—even murder. You remember Cain and Abel? (Gen. 4:1-9). The Bible warns us not to be covetous of our neighbour’s house, spouse, animal or belongings (Exo. 20:17).
Take a lead from yesterday’s devotional. A man was gifted 99 golden coins. In his wild imagination, he lusted after one more golden coin in order to get an 100. Covetousness, otherwise known as greed made him forget that he was gifted the 99 golden coins. He didn’t work for it in the first place. Humanly speaking, there is a desire to want more. More money, more influence, more fame, more glory, more connections, more jewelleries, etc. But, as soon as you don’t put these things under the control of the Holy Spirit, you may soon lose more valuable things that could cost you your peace. Peace is a priceless commodity.
Your friend bought the latest Range Rover Sport, now your only goal is to buy yours. Brother, you are not your friend. Destiny differs. Have you checked with God if that is what he wants you buy with His treasures in your bank account? They that compare themselves with themselves are not wise (2 Cor. 10:12). This is what has led many into doing things like Yahoo, Yahoo plus, Yahoo plus plus, etc. The social media space is also guilty of encouraging people to compare themselves with another; subtly inspiring covetousness and insecurity. From lavish lifestyle to showing off expensive hair, holiday to expensive tourist centres, showing off exotic cars and gold wristwatches, etc. Ironically, many of these show offs are simply make-believe.
Man, being an object of sight and sound can be quick to accept this reality as the new normal, and as a result start to press into such, either by hook or by crook. The thousands of films chunked out on the social media space further points to covetousness. There is an old film about ancient gold miners in a gold mine. No matter how much they dugged, they were still desperate to have more without recourse to God nor the understanding of the purpose of such blessings. No wonder people like that have a big vacuum in their heart no material wealth can ever satisfy. Their hearts have become spiritually cancerous eaten by greed and selfish desires without an iota of plan to serve God nor humanity.
The cure to covetousness is to discover your purpose and pursue it daily. Be contented in God. Then, you watch God has He increase you in leaps and bounds by lavishing you with blessings greater than what money can offer. Why should you have money but lose your health? Why should you have money and one person dies in your family yearly? Why should you have money but live perpetually in fear? Discover God. Discover purpose. Know peace. Know godly blessings. It is the blessings of God that makes rich and adds no sorrow (Prov. 10:22).
Quote: Covetousness as a strong desire after the possession of worldly things – Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Prophetic Decree: Let every arrow of covetousness fired into my heart backfire, in Jesus name.
Prayer Focus
1. Thank you Father for the gift of life you have graciously loaned me.
2. I kill the spirit of covetousness ravaging my heart, in Jesus name.
3. I receive the grace to live in moderation and to understand that lifting is mostly connected to my purpose, in Jesus name.
4. O Lord, please help me to be contented with what I have per time, in Jesus name.
5. I laminate my heart by the power in the Blood of Jesus from the social media glitz of this End-time, in Jesus name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Luke 12-13