Word Studies - Covetousness

Attitude toward material wealth is a very prominent Bible subject. Psalms and Proverbs contain many references to the vanity of riches and the generally wicked character of the rich. Jesus frequently warned men of the spiritual dangers presented by wealth and the desire to have it. When asked to intervene in an inheritance dispute, He said, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses." (Luke 12:15).

What is "covetousness"? It seems that we have trouble grasping the concept and explaining the meaning of the term. I sometimes wonder whether the difficulty may be due to men's attempts to define the word so as not to condemn their own attitudes toward money, but a more likely source of difficulty is the fact that several Hebrew and Greek words with varying meanings are translated "to covet." Except for the King James Version's rendering of "zeloo" in 1 Corinthians 12:31 and 14:39, the word "covet" in the Bible generally refers to desiring something improperly.

The tenth commandment given at Mount Sinai (Exodus 20:17) forbade an Israelite to desire that which was his neighbor's and to which he thus had no right. As we read the items specified, we readily see that one could never rightfully take another's wife from him, but other possessions, like a servant or animal, could be lawfully purchased. We might take the commandment to mean that one must not desire another's possessions to the extent that he would do wrong to acquire them. I have heard the commandment explained that way, but there is more to avoiding coveting than this.

The principle of contentment, being "content with such things as you have" (Hebrews 13:5), is taught in the tenth commandment. Consider the case of a farmer who desired to have his neighbor's team of oxen and went to his neighbor to try to purchase them. If the neighbor did not desire to sell, what should the farmer do? He could worry and fret and search for some legal means to get possession of the oxen, but if he honored the Mosaical law he would forget his neighbor's animals and be satisfied with what he had or seek to buy elsewhere. The story of King Ahab and his desire for Naboth's vineyard is a prime example of this. Jezebel took the initiative in falsely accusing Naboth and having him killed, but it was the covetousness of Ahab that produced this sorry episode. When Naboth refused to trade his property, Ahab should have thought no more about it. (1 Kings 21).

Among the qualifications of a man who would be an overseer in the local church, Paul included the requirement that he be "not covetous." (1 Timothy 3:3). The Greek word here is "aphilarguros," which could be literally rendered "not loving silver." This refers to simple love of money. A man who is honest but miserly is guilty of covetousness. The Pharisees had this problem. (Luke 16:14). Not thieves, they were very religious, paying their tithes and offering their sacrifices, but they loved money. Christ's story of the rich man and Lazarus was directed toward them to warn them of their greed.

Christians need to be warned often of this spiritually-debilitating problem, also. Paul covered the whole range of covetousness in 1 Timothy 6:6-10, starting with the need for learning contentment: "Now godliness with contentment is great gain...And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content." The right attitude toward money must always begin there. One cannot avoid coveting without first learning to be content. The "desire to be rich" is covetous desire, which leads to all manner of foolish and harmful lusts, drowning men in destruction and perdition.