Principles for Giving No.6

Jesus warned us to watch out and be on guard against covetousness. This simply means to be greedy and longing for more. This warning is not just for those who have an abundance of the world’s wealth, but also applies to those who have little. One of the signs of the end times is a spirit of covetousness.

Paul told Timothy, “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy” (2 Tim 3:1-2).Paul told the Ephesians, “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God” (Ephesians 5:5).

Look at Jesus’ warning, which gives a clearer understanding of the original Greek, “…Guard yourselves and keep free from all covetousness – the immoderate desire for wealth the greedy longing to have more for a man’s life does not consist and is not derived from possessing overflowing abundance, or that which is over and above his needs.” (Luke 12:15 TAB)