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Apples of Gold
Radio Script for January 24, 2011
“You Might Be Covetous If…”
Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.
Thou shalt not covet.
Everyone knows that, right?
It’s in the Ten Commandments, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house or his wife or his servants or his animals; and just when you think you’re safe it says, “Nor anything that is thy neighbor’s.”
And lest you relegate that to the Old Testament, Ephesians 5:3 says don’t even let covetousness be named among you. It’s not fitting for saints.
What exactly is coveting?
Billy Graham said, “Coveting is an attitude. When we desire something that belongs to someone else, that’s coveting.”*
When you covet something, you desire it greatly, you lust after it; and it’s sin when you covet something forbidden.
Coveting is setting your heart on something you can’t rightfully have, that belongs to someone else.
John Newton called it a “besetting sin.”
Coveting is not a passing whim. It’s not when you drive by someone’s house and say, “I’d like to have a house like that someday.”
One of the clearest examples of covetousness in the Bible is when King Ahab wanted his neighbor’s vineyard. It was right next to his palace, and he offered to buy it or give the man a better vineyard somewhere else.
The man’s name was Naboth and here was his response in First Kings chapter 21, “The Lord forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!”
Did Ahab say, “Okay, never mind,” and forget about it? Not at all! He curled up in bed and wouldn’t even eat. He was sick with covetousness, that’s how bad he wanted that vineyard next door.
His wicked wife, Queen Jezebel, saw how bad he wanted it and said, “Get up! Eat! I’ll get that vineyard for you!” She killed the neighbor, took the vineyard, and that was that. Except that God judged them and they died.
John Newton said that covetousness is one of the easiest sins to keep around because people can’t really see that you have it. In fact, he said, people often don’t realize themselves, or won’t admit it, that they are covetous.**
So, are you covetous? If you aren’t sure, let me ask you some questions in the format of “you might be covetous if…”
If you want something and are thinking about sneaking around to get it, you might be covetous.
If you have to be deceitful, tell a little lie, shade the truth, quibble, you might be covetous.
Is there anything dishonorable in the process? Are you taking the low road? Are you being underhanded? If you are willing to sacrifice your honor, you might be covetous.
Are you taking advantage of anyone? Is it cheating them in any way? If there is any element of “taking” from them for your own benefit, you might be covetous.
Does thinking about it make you nervous? If your anxiety level goes up when you think about this desire, you might be covetous.
If you think God might be standing between you and what you want, you might be covetous.
If you can’t obtain it with a completely clear conscience, you might be covetous.
If you just know that God is not pleased with this desire, you might be covetous.
If you can feel God’s icy hand of judgment every time you think of it, you might be covetous.
If wanting this puts up a road block to loving your neighbor in any way, you might be covetous.
If you want something bad enough to steal it, I’m pretty sure you’re covetous!
If you are willing to commit any sin just to get it, you probably are covetous.
In Luke 12:15 Jesus said to take heed and beware of covetousness.
Proverbs 28:16 indicates that we should hate covetousness.
Colossians 3:5 tells us to put to death covetousness.
Jeremiah six talks about God bringing judgment on the people because, from the least of them to the greatest, they were all given to covetousness.
Ephesians 5:5 says that no covetous man has any inheritance in the kingdom of God.
And when choosing church leaders, First Timothy three says that one thing we should look for, and not find, is covetousness.
So look for it in your own life, and through the Lord, put it to death. Get rid of it for good.
There is no place for covetousness in the life of a Christian. It must not even be named among us.
Instead of setting our hearts on the things of this world, we must fix our hearts and minds on the things of Almighty God.
Comments?
E-mail me: dougapple@wave94.com.
May God bless you today! With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
* Found on page 75 of the book “How to be Born Again” by Billy Graham
** You can read *”Covetousness” by John Newton here: http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/covet.html
© 2010 The Arrow’s Tip
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)
Why “The Arrow’s Tip”? Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold. Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.” I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.
Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL 32315
(850) 926-8000
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