COVETOUSNOUS: REBELLION’S ROOT EXPOSED!

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:21, KJV)

ABSTRACT

This article examines the profound implications of covetousness as the core of iniquity, drawing from Isaiah 57 to reveal its idolatrous nature, the divine wrath it incurs, Christ’s selfless sacrifice as the remedy, God’s fierce love in opposition to it, our responsibility to cultivate contentment and generosity, and its prophetic fulfillment in the end-time clash between selfish systems and divine grace.

COVETOUSNESS

Greetings, dedicated community. Today, we return to the profound prophetic landscape of Isaiah 57, but we do so with a sharpened focus, a theological magnifying glass aimed at a single, devastating word: “covetousness.” In our previous exploration, we identified “iniquity” as the spiritual cancer that necessitated the cross. Now, we must dissect the very heart of that malignancy. The prophet declares that God was wroth “for the iniquity of his covetousness” (Isaiah 57:17). This is no mere passing desire or fleeting fancy; it is the foundational sin, the idolatry of the heart that places the creature’s craving on the throne of the Creator. Christ reveals His selfless nature by enduring the cross for humanity’s grasping sins, showing that true fulfillment comes from divine provision rather than selfish acquisition. Scripture reveals that covetousness leads to spiritual death, as in Ephesians 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.” Revealing the heart’s deceit, Romans 7:7 states: “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Ellen G. White explains, “Constant, self-denying benevolence is God’s remedy for the cankering sins of selfishness and covetousness. God has arranged systematic benevolence to sustain His cause and relieve the necessities of the suffering and needy. He has ordained that giving should become a habit, that it may counteract the dangerous and deceitful sin of covetousness. Continual giving starves covetousness to death” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 548, 1875). Sr. White adds, “God requires an appropriation of means for benevolent objects every week, that in the frequent exercise of this good quality the heart may be kept open like a flowing stream and not allowed to close up. By exercise, benevolence constantly enlarges and strengthens, until it becomes a principle and reigns in the soul. It is highly dangerous to spirituality to allow selfishness and covetousness the least room in the heart” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 548, 1875). We will then contrast this with the breathtaking self-emptying of Jesus Christ, who, where humanity grasped, let go. This article will journey from the Tenth Commandment’s solemn warning to the cross where its ultimate penalty was borne, revealing how Christ’s selfless sacrifice is the only divine antidote to the covetous spirit that plagues the human heart. Let us ask for the Spirit’s guidance as we confront this uncomfortable truth, that we might be healed from this hidden idol and reflect more perfectly the image of our self-sacrificing Lord. What forms the anatomy of the rebellion that severed our connection with God?

REBELLION’S ANATOMY ATTACK!

To truly grasp the depth of our spiritual crisis, we must first understand the anatomy of the rebellion that severed our connection with God. The prophet Isaiah uses the term “iniquity,” which is far more severe than a simple mistake; it signifies a willful, twisted rebellion against the known law of God. This is not an accidental stumble but a deliberate choice to depart from the path of righteousness, a conscious act of turning away from divine counsel. The prophet Isaiah describes this state of rebellion with a divine lament: “Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin” (Isaiah 30:1). This is the essence of iniquity: a heart that seeks its own counsel, that weaves its own covering of self-justification, and in doing so, only compounds its guilt. This willful disobedience is what constitutes a state of war with the very principles of heaven. Christ, through His sacrifice, breaks the power of such rebellion, offering reconciliation to those who turn to Him. Scripture reveals the consequences of rebellion, as in Deuteronomy 9:7: “Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the LORD.” Clearly, 1 Samuel 15:23 declares: “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.” Ellen G. White states, “The wilderness wandering was not only ordained as a judgment upon the rebels and murmurers, but it was to serve as a discipline for the rising generation, preparatory to their entrance into the Promised Land” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 407, 1890). Sr. White adds, “In the rebellion at Kadesh they had rejected God, and God had for the time rejected them” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 406, 1890). As Ellen G. White states, “He who willfully breaks one commandment, does not, in spirit and truth, keep any of them. … In disregarding the will of God, they are placing themselves on the side of Satan, the enemy of God and man” (Reflecting Christ, p. 62, 1985). This is not a minor infraction but a fundamental betrayal of allegiance, a choice to serve the self rather than the Savior. It is this deliberate turning from God, this calculated rebellion of the heart, that forms the dark foundation of the human condition and necessitates a divine intervention of infinite proportions. What fuels this willful rebellion with greedy desire?

DESIRE’S IDOL UNVEILED!

While iniquity is the act of rebellion, covetousness is the greedy, selfish desire that fuels it. The prophet’s specific charge is “the iniquity of his covetousness,” revealing that our willful rebellion is driven by a discontented heart that craves what God has not given. This is the sin that lies at the very root of all others, for it is the idolatry of the heart. The apostle Paul makes this connection explicit, commanding us to “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5). It is idolatry because it dethrones God and enthrones the self. It is a declaration that our happiness depends not on God’s provision, but on the acquisition of something He has withheld. This insatiable desire is the engine of sin, leading to a host of other evils. As Paul warns, “the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10). This is the spiritual sickness for which the world was dying, a deep-seated idolatry that corrupts the soul and leads to eternal separation from God. Christ, by His self-emptying, overcomes this idolatry, providing a model for us to follow in surrendering our desires to God. Scripture reveals the peril of covetousness, as in Luke 12:15: “And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Furthermore, Hebrews 13:5 instructs: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Ellen G. White explains, “All covetousness is condemned as idolatry. All selfish indulgence is an offense in God’s sight” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 261, 1900). Sr. White adds, “The drunkard is despised and is told that his sin will exclude him from heaven, while pride, selfishness, and covetousness go unrebuked. But these are sins that are especially offensive to God. He ‘resisteth the proud,’ and Paul tells us that covetousness is idolatry. Those who are familiar with the denunciations against idolatry in the word of God will at once see how grave an offense this sin is” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 337, 1889). As Sr. White so powerfully states, “The tenth commandment strikes at the very root of all sins, prohibiting the selfish desire, from which springs the sinful act. He who in obedience to God’s law refrains from indulging even a sinful desire for that which belongs to another, will not be guilty of an act of wrong toward his fellow-creatures” (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 309, 1890). This internal corruption, this greedy desire, is the terrible force that drives the deliberate act of iniquity. What provokes God’s righteous wrath in this fusion of rebellion and greed?

WRATH’S RIGHTEOUS ROAR!

The fusion of these two concepts—a willful rebellion fueled by a greedy desire—is what provokes the righteous wrath of God. The phrase “the iniquity of his covetousness” describes a deliberate, calculated disobedience born of a discontented and idolatrous heart. This is not a momentary lapse but a settled state of being that stands in direct opposition to the character and government of God. His wrath, therefore, is not the arbitrary anger of a tyrant but the holy, just, and necessary response of His nature to a condition that would, if left unchecked, fill the universe with misery. The scripture warns that it is precisely for these things that “the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience” (Colossians 3:6). This divine indignation is not intended to destroy but to awaken. It is the loving, though painful, response of a Father who must allow the consequences of sin to be felt so that the sinner might be convicted of their desperate need for a Savior. This is the wrath that was poured out upon Christ at Calvary. He, the sinless one, stood in the place of the rebel, bearing the full weight of the Father’s holy opposition to our covetous, idolatrous hearts. Christ, as the substitute, endures this wrath, demonstrating God’s justice and mercy in one act. Scripture reveals God’s wrath as a response to sin, as in Romans 1:18: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.” Moreover, Ephesians 5:6 warns: “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” Ellen G. White states, “The wrath of God against sin, the terrible manifestation of His displeasure because of iniquity, filled the soul of His Son with consternation” (The Desire of Ages, p. 753, 1898). Sr. White adds, “Christ felt the anguish which the sinner will feel when mercy shall no longer plead for the guilty race. It was the sense of sin, bringing the Father’s wrath upon Him as man’s substitute, that made the cup He drank so bitter, and broke the heart of the Son of God” (The Desire of Ages, p. 753, 1898). As Sr. White explains, this was the source of His deepest agony: “The power that inflicted retributive justice upon man’s substitute and surety, was the power that sustained and upheld the suffering One under the tremendous weight of wrath that would have fallen upon a sinful world. Christ was suffering the death that was pronounced upon the transgressors of God’s law” (That I May Know Him, p. 64, 1964). The cross, therefore, is the ultimate demonstration of the terror of God’s wrath against the iniquity of covetousness, but it is also the ultimate revelation of the love that provided a way of escape. What stands in glorious contrast to humanity’s grasping nature?

SAVIOR’S SELFLESS STAND!

In stark and glorious contrast to the grasping, selfish nature of humanity stands the selfless, self-emptying nature of Jesus Christ. Where our iniquity of covetousness cries out, “I want to have,” His divine love declared, “I want to give.” The apostle Paul presents this as the very heart of the gospel, the divine antidote to our spiritual disease: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:5-8). He did not cling to His divine glory; He willingly set it aside. He did not grasp for what was not His; He relinquished what was rightfully His for our sakes. At Calvary, He who owned the universe became poor, bearing in His own body the curse of our covetous, idolatrous hearts. He endured the wrath that our selfish desires had earned, becoming the ultimate sacrifice for a world consumed with self. Christ empties Himself completely, offering us the path to true freedom from self. Scripture reveals Christ’s humility, as in 2 Corinthians 8:9: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” Moreover, Mark 10:45 states: “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Ellen G. White explains, “The wonderful example of Christ, the matchless tenderness with which He entered into the feelings of others, weeping with those who wept, rejoicing with those who rejoiced, must have a deep influence upon the character of all who follow Him in sincerity. By kindly words and acts they will try to make the path easy for weary feet” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 157, 1905). Sr. White adds, “In His life no self-assertion was to be mingled. The homage which the world gives to position, to wealth, and to talent was to be foreign to the Son of God. None of the means that men employ to win allegiance or to command homage was the Messiah to use. His utter renunciation of self was foreshadowed in the words: ‘He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench’” (Prophets and Kings, p. 692, 1917). As Sr. White so beautifully explains, this was the very essence of His being: “Jesus emptied Himself, and in all that He did, self did not appear. He subordinated all things to the will of His Father” (Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 14, 1896). This selfless sacrifice is the eternal rebuke to the covetous spirit of humanity and the only power that can heal us from this deep-seated malady of the soul. How does God’s love express itself in wrath against the sin of covetousness?

FATHER’S FIERCE AFFECTION!

How can a God of love be filled with such wrath against the sin of a greedy and rebellious heart? It is because His love is a holy, purifying fire that cannot bear to see His children consumed by the very idols they have chosen. His wrath is the fierce expression of a love that refuses to abandon us to the destructive consequences of our own selfishness. The scripture declares, “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?” (Romans 8:32). This is a love that gives, that sacrifices, that pours itself out for the object of its affection. In stark contrast, the iniquity of covetousness is a spirit that grasps, that hoards, that is never satisfied. God’s wrath against this sin is the righteous indignation of a loving Father who longs to free us from its enslaving power. The apostle John reveals the proactive nature of this love: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). God did not wait for us to become worthy; He initiated our rescue while we were still in rebellion. The prophet Jeremiah captures the eternal nature of this love: “Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3). This drawing, this wooing, is the work of a love that seeks to heal us from the inside out. The apostle Paul prays that we might be able to comprehend the immeasurable dimensions of this love, “To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God” (Ephesians 3:19). To be filled with this fullness is to be emptied of the covetous spirit that once dominated our hearts. Christ embodies this love by giving Himself fully, showing that true love overcomes self through sacrifice. Scripture reveals God’s love in action, as in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Furthermore, Romans 5:8 declares: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Ellen G. White states, “The love of God is a golden chain, binding finite human beings to Himself. This love passes our knowledge. Human science can not explain it. Human wisdom can not fathom it. Parents love their children, but the love of God is larger, broader, deeper, than human love can possibly be. All the paternal love that has come down from generation to generation, through the channel of human hearts, all the springs of tenderness that have opened in the sons of men, are but as a tiny rill to the boundless ocean, when compared with the infinite, exhaustless love of God. Tongue can not utter it; pen can not portray it. You may meditate upon it every day of your life; you may search the Scriptures diligently in an effort to understand it; you may summon every power and capability that God has given you; and yet there is an infinity beyond. You may study that love for ages, and yet you can never fully comprehend the length and breadth and depth and height, of the love of God” (The Signs of the Times, July 13, 1904). Sr. White adds, “Human love may change, but God’s love knows no change. ‘The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.’ Circumstances may separate friends; the broad waters of the ocean may roll between them; but no circumstance, no distance, can separate us from the love of God. ‘I am persuaded,’ Paul declares, ‘that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord’” (The Signs of the Times, July 13, 1904). As Sr. White states, “The perception of God’s love works the renunciation of selfishness” (Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 105, 1896). Furthermore, she explains that this love is not an abstract concept but a tangible reality revealed in the natural world: “‘God is love’ is written upon every opening bud, upon every spire of springing grass. The lovely birds making the air vocal with their happy songs, the delicately tinted flowers in their perfection perfuming the air, the lofty trees of the forest with their rich foliage of living green—all testify to the tender, fatherly care of our God and to His desire to make His children happy” (Steps to Christ, p. 10, 1892). This love is also revealed in His very character, as Sr. White notes, “The word of God reveals His character. He Himself has declared His infinite love and pity” (Steps to Christ, p. 10, 1892). And finally, this love is not a passive emotion but an active principle: “True love is not merely a sentiment or an emotion. It is a living principle, a principle that is manifest in action. True love, wherever it exists, will control the life” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 349, 1905). God’s wrath against the iniquity of covetousness, therefore, is the fierce, protective love of a Father who longs to deliver His children from an idol that would destroy them, and to fill them instead with His own spirit of selfless, joyful giving. What responsibility does this selfless sacrifice place upon us toward God and our neighbor?

REDEEMED’S RESPONSIBLE ROLE!

In the face of such a selfless sacrifice, what is my responsibility to God and to my neighbor? My primary duty to God is to cultivate a spirit of contentment and gratitude, which is the fruit of a heart that has been healed from the disease of covetousness. The apostle Paul gives this charge: “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). My responsibility is to find my ultimate satisfaction in God alone, to trust in His presence and provision rather than in the fleeting security of earthly possessions. This is the essence of true worship—a heart that has been freed from the idolatry of “more.” As Sr. White counsels, “Our first duty toward God and our fellow beings is that of self-development. Every faculty with which the Creator has endowed us should be cultivated to the highest degree of perfection, that we may be able to do the greatest amount of good of which we are capable” (Counsels on Health, p. 107, 1923). This self-development is not for selfish gain, but for greater service. My responsibility to my neighbor flows directly from this. A heart that is content in God is free to be generous to others. The law is fulfilled in this one command: “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Galatians 5:14). This love is the practical outworking of a heart that has been delivered from the prison of self. It is my duty to look not only on my own interests, but also on the interests of others, to share my resources, my time, and my compassion with those in need. This is the tangible evidence that the healing of Christ has taken place in my soul. Christ calls us to generosity, mirroring His own giving of all for our sake. Scripture reveals the blessing of generosity, as in Proverbs 11:24-25: “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” Moreover, Acts 20:35 reminds: “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Ellen G. White states, “Courage, hope, faith, sympathy, love, promote health and prolong life. A contented mind, a cheerful spirit, is health to the body and strength to the soul” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 241, 1905). Sr. White adds, “Gratitude, rejoicing, benevolence, trust in God’s love and care—these are health’s greatest safeguard” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 281, 1905). As Sr. White states, “The giving of the gospel to the world is the work that God has committed to those who bear His name. For earth’s sin and misery the gospel is the only antidote. To make known to all mankind the message of the grace of God is the first work of those who know its healing power” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 141, 1905). My responsibility, therefore, is to be a living testimony against the spirit of covetousness, demonstrating by a life of contentment and open-handed generosity the transforming power of the gospel. What prophetic anti-type embodies this conflict between covetousness and selfless love?

FINAL CHARACTER CLASH!

In light of these concepts of covetousness and selfless love, what is the prophetic anti-type found in Scripture? The ultimate, end-time manifestation of this conflict is found in the great controversy between Babylon and the people of God, as depicted in the book of Revelation. Babylon the great is the antitypical embodiment of the spirit of covetousness. She is described as a global power built on commerce, luxury, and the selfish accumulation of wealth. The merchants of the earth are made rich through her, and she glorifies herself, saying in her heart, “I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow” (Revelation 18:7). Her entire system is an appeal to the covetous heart, a grand edifice of idolatry where the love of money and possessions has replaced the love of God. The final warning message to God’s people is a call to separate from this system: “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4). In stark contrast to this stand the 144,000, who are sealed with the Father’s name—His character—in their foreheads. They have overcome the spirit of covetousness and are found “without fault before the throne of God” (Revelation 14:5). This final conflict is not merely about doctrines, but about character. It is a test of whose spirit we have embraced: the grasping, self-exalting spirit of Babylon, or the self-emptying, obedient spirit of Christ. As Sr. White warns, we are living in the great antitypical day of atonement, a time of investigative judgment where every case is being decided. She writes, “We are now living in the great day of atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance” (The Great Controversy, p. 489, 1911). This affliction of soul includes the rooting out of the deep-seated sin of covetousness. Sr. White further states, “The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise, it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time or to occupy the position which God designs them to fill” (The Great Controversy, p. 488, 1911). Christ triumphs in this conflict by returning to establish His kingdom of selfless love. Scripture reveals Babylon’s fall, as in Revelation 18:21: “And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.” Moreover, Revelation 19:20 describes: “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.” Ellen G. White explains, “Babylon will make all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (The S.D.A. Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 979, 1957). Sr. White adds, “The so-called Christian world is to be the theater of great and decisive actions. Men in authority will enact laws controlling the conscience, after the example of the papacy. Babylon will make all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Every nation will be involved. Of this time John the Revelator declares: [Revelation 18:3-7; 17:13, 14, quoted]. ‘These have one mind.’ There will be a universal bond of union, one great harmony, a confederacy of Satan’s forces. ‘And shall give their power and strength unto the beast.’ Thus is manifested the same arbitrary, oppressive power against religious liberty—freedom to worship God according to the dictates of conscience—as was manifested by the papacy, when in the past it persecuted those who dared to refuse to conform with the religious rites and ceremonies of Romanism” (Selected Messages, vol. 3, p. 392, 1980). The prophetic anti-type, therefore, is this final judgment-hour test, which will reveal who has been healed of the idolatry of covetousness and is fit to inherit the kingdom of God. How do we apply these truths to our hearts and ministry?

GRACE’S GRASP TRANSFORMS!

My dear community, this message strikes at the very core of our fallen nature. It is a deeply personal and often painful examination. How do we take these theological truths and apply them to our own hearts and to the hearts of those we minister to? Let us consider a few practical applications. Christ calls us to examine our motives, transforming self-seeking into selfless service through daily surrender. Scripture reveals the need for self-examination, as in 2 Corinthians 13:5: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” Moreover, James 1:23-25 describes: “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” Ellen G. White states, “Courage, hope, faith, sympathy, love, promote health and prolong life. A contented mind, a cheerful spirit, is health to the body and strength to the soul” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 241, 1905). Sr. White adds, “Gratitude, rejoicing, benevolence, trust in God’s love and care—these are health’s greatest safeguard” (The Ministry of Healing, p. 281, 1905). When we counsel a family struggling with debt and financial stress, do we see beyond the numbers? Do we recognize the spiritual battle against the idol of covetousness? We can gently guide them to the words of Jesus: “a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). We can teach them the principles of stewardship and contentment, showing them that true wealth is found not in accumulation, but in a trusting relationship with the God who has promised, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). This transforms financial counseling into a deeply spiritual ministry of healing. Christ models this by addressing root sins, calling us to guide others toward spiritual freedom. Scripture reveals stewardship’s importance, as in 1 Timothy 6:17-19: “Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.” Moreover, Proverbs 19:17 states: “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” Ellen G. White explains, “In order to be happy, we must strive to attain to that character which Christ exhibited. One marked peculiarity of Christ was His self-denial and benevolence. He came not to seek His own. He went about doing good, and this was His meat and drink. We may, by following the example of the Saviour, be in holy communion with Him; and by daily seeking to imitate His character and follow His example we shall be a blessing to the world and shall secure for ourselves contentment here and an eternal reward hereafter” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 227, 1881). Sr. White adds, “Become a living stream of good deeds —If God and Christ and angels rejoice when even one sinner repents and becomes obedient to Christ, should not man be imbued with the same spirit, and work for time and for eternity with persevering effort to save, not only his own soul, but the souls of others? If you work in this direction with wholehearted interest as the followers of Christ, discharging every duty, improving every opportunity, your own souls will be gradually settling into the mold of a perfect Christian. The heart will not be sere and unfeeling. The spiritual life will not be dwarfed. The whole life will flow out with cheerful readiness in channels of love and sympathy for humanity. Self will be forgotten, and the ways of this class will be established in God. In watering others their own souls will be watered. The stream flowing through their souls is from a living spring and is flowing out to others in good deeds, in earnest, unselfish effort for their salvation” (The Review and Herald, January 2, 1879). In our evangelistic efforts, are we presenting the full picture of the final conflict? It is not enough to preach about the mark of the beast as a future event; we must explain it as the culmination of a character choice. We can show how the spirit of Babylon—the love of the world, the desire for gain, the trust in riches—is already at work in our culture and in our own hearts. This makes the third angel’s message a present, heart-searching truth, calling for a genuine conversion from the idolatry of covetousness to a wholehearted allegiance to Christ. Christ urges us to proclaim the full gospel, preparing hearts for the end-time test. Scripture reveals the call to separate, as in Revelation 18:4: “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Moreover, 2 Corinthians 6:17 instructs: “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” Ellen G. White states, “Babylon will make all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (The S.D.A. Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 979, 1957). Sr. White adds, “The powers of earth, uniting to war against the commandments of God, will decree that ‘all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond’ (Revelation 13:16), shall conform to the customs of the church by the observance of the false sabbath. All who refuse compliance will be visited with civil penalties, and it will finally be declared that they are deserving of death. All who refuse compliance will be visited with civil penalties, and it will finally be declared that they are deserving of death” (The Great Controversy, p. 604, 1911). And what about our own lives, my friends? Let us ask ourselves the hard questions. Do I find my contentment in Christ, or in my possessions, my position, my reputation? Does my use of money reflect a spirit of selfless generosity or a spirit of selfish grasping? The call to overcome covetousness is a call to die to self daily. It is a call to come to the foot of the cross, where the ultimate example of selflessness was displayed, and to be purged of this insidious sin. As Sr. White so powerfully stated, “If pride and selfishness were laid aside, five minutes would remove most difficulties” (Early Writings, p. 119, 1882). May we, by God’s grace, lay aside this sin, that we may be effective ministers of His healing and peace. How does this journey from covetousness to selfless love conclude in eternal triumph?

ETERNAL TREASURE TRIUMPHS!

We have journeyed into the heart of darkness, to the root of the iniquity that separates us from God: the sin of covetousness. We have seen it for what it is—not a minor character flaw, but a form of idolatry that places the desires of the self on the throne of the heart. It is a discontented, grasping spirit that stands in stark, eternal opposition to the character of our giving, loving God. Christ conquers this darkness through His ultimate sacrifice, offering us eternal life free from self. Scripture reveals the victory over sin, as in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Moreover, 1 John 5:4 states: “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” Ellen G. White explains, “The nations of this age have been the recipients of unprecedented mercies. The choicest of Heaven’s blessings have been given them; but increased pride, covetousness, idolatry, contempt of God, and base ingratitude, are written against them” (The Review and Herald, January 11, 1887). Sr. White adds, “In the light of the law, covetousness is seen to be idolatry, lust adultery, and anger murder” (The Signs of the Times, March 3, 1890). But we have not been left in this darkness. We have beheld the glorious contrast in the person of Jesus Christ. He who was rich, for our sakes became poor. He who was in the form of God, emptied Himself. His entire life, culminating in the ultimate sacrifice of the cross, was a testament to a love that does not grasp, but gives. In His selfless act, He bore the wrath that our covetousness deserved and opened a fountain of healing for this deep-seated disease of the soul. We have seen that this ancient conflict between covetousness and love finds its final, antitypical fulfillment in the great controversy between Babylon and the people of God. The final test will be one of character, revealing whose spirit we have chosen to serve. And we have been reminded of our solemn responsibility, as those who have been healed by His grace, to live lives of contentment and generosity, demonstrating to a world consumed with getting, the superior joy of giving. May we, as His ambassadors, be freed from the love of this world and its treasures. May our hearts be captivated by the matchless charms of Christ, the only treasure that endures. And may our lives be a testament to the truth that the kingdom He came to establish is not built on the shifting sands of earthly gain, but on the eternal rock of His own selfless, sacrificial love.

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COVETOUSNOUS: REBELLION’S ROOT EXPOSED!

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