By Evangelist Joachim P. Erameh
BIBLE READING: Hebrews 13:5:
“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.”
MESSAGE:
To be contented is to be satisfied with what you have and to give thanks to God. Contentment is a great virtue.
1 Timothy 6:6 says, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
God expects His children to be contented with whatever He gives them. He said to David, “And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things” (2 Samuel 12:8).
As king, David had many wives, but yet he was not satisfied with them. Right from the day David set his eyes on Bathsheba bathing, he did not stop lusting after her until he conspired and killed her husband Uriah and married her.
It is not good for a child of God to be covetous. Just be satisfied with what you have and be thankful. There are people who don’t even have what you have, but are happy and grateful to God for the little they have.
Luke 12:15 says, “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.”
When one is covetous, he or she will stop at nothing to get what he or she wants. Covetousness has consequences. It has brought sorrow and regret to many who were not contented with what they have.
1 Timothy 6:10 says, “For 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.”
If you would like to live long and fulfill destiny, pray against the spirit of covetousness and be contented with what you have. So many people have died while others are in prison today due to covetousness.
Gehazi coveted and lied for material gain, and he ended up becoming a leper.
2 Kings 5:27 says, “The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.”
King Ahab and Jezebel his wife were cursed by God because of Naboth’s vineyard which they coveted.
In 1 Kings 21:19, God said to Elijah the prophet, “And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.”
Beloved, be contented with what you have and never try to compare yourself with another person. After all, you are not in competition with anyone.
Be hardworking and trust God to give you the things you need but do not have. Not the things you already have but do not need. Moreover, God has promised never to leave you nor forsake you.
Also, think more of how to serve God and go to heaven than how to make money and acquire properties everywhere.
Colossians 3:2 says, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”
And if you are living in sin, repent and surrender to Jesus Christ before it is too late.
Action Point:
Don’t be covetous: be contented with what you have.
What To Know
- To be contented is to be satisfied with what you have and to give thanks to God.
- He said to David, “And I gave thee thy master’s house, and thy master’s wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah.
- Right from the day David set his eyes on Bathsheba bathing, he did not stop lusting after her until he conspired and killed her husband Uriah and married her.
