COVETOUSNESS IS ALSO FEAR

DAY 85
Fear File: Achan the son of Carmi
Scripture: Joshua 7:1,21

But the children of Israel committed a trespass regarding the accursed things, for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed things; so the anger of the Lord burned against the children of Israel. And Achan answered Joshua and said, “Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I have done: When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it.”

Covetousness is a strong desire to have something that is not yours. It is so strong that it influences actions. Another word for it is greed. We know from Scripture that covetousness is a sin. But what we may not realize is that covetousness is also a manifestation of fear. As I have said countless times, whatever is not faith, whatever is not pleasing to God is fear. The Bible says that we cannot please God without faith. So, anything that you’re doing that is unpleasing to God is already outside the realms of faith. And whatever is outside the realms of faith is fear.

Careful, It Might Shift

Often, when we hear “greed” or “covetousness” we tend to cringe. We say, “Oh, no, I don’t have that.” Because they seem like big words and very terrible sins; so we don’t realize that it’s even in the smallest things. It starts off as admiration. “Oh, I like this thing this person has. Oh, it’s very beautiful. Oh, I wish I could have that.” We’re still in the healthy realm. Where it begins to shift is when you start “Oh, how can I get that?” And the only motive behind the thought is because someone else has it, nothing more. Now you’re going the extra mile to save for that thing that you didn’t even think you needed yesterday. And that admiration turns to desire and begins to drive you to do whatever it takes.

In our study today, we see covetousness displayed and manifested as a desire for beautiful things. The children of Isreal had finally broken into Jericho and God had said to them “Do not take anything from any nation you defeat.” But Achan, the son of Carmi saw something beautiful, he couldn’t take his eyes away from it, so he took it. He probably thought it was too beautiful to go to waste. And that is the voice of greed. It’s the same thing Judas Iscariot said why should such good oil go to waste? It sounded like concern but alas it was greed in disguise and in the end, 30 pieces of silver were all it took to make him a betrayer.

It’s Not A Waste

Covetous and greedy people often act like they want to save something from going to waste. People that are covetous of food, say, “Oh, this food will go to waste if I don’t eat it.” But are you supposed to eat more? So Are you supposed to be the rescuer of wasted things? That’s what determines covetousness.

Learn to trust that God will give you what is yours. Learn to rely on the fact that God, if God says you shouldn’t touch something it’s because He’s trying to preserve you. He doesn’t want you to associate yourself with things that will contaminate your spirit and your heart.

The truth is, when you are longing for something that shouldn’t be yours, you are shifting your focus from him. Sometimes, the reason why God keeps us away from things is because having those things will shift our focus. So if you go the extra mile to get those things, you are going to be living outside the realms of faith. And God wants you to live by faith.

Don’t Touch It

So my friends, take your hands and your eyes away from things that God says, “Do not touch.” Don’t try so hard to get what is your friend’s own that you begin to do everything possible. Don’t desire what is not necessary. You don’t need more and more and more of something for no reason. Focus on God, not the thing you desire.

Trust that if the God that said don’t touch that beautiful thing has a beautiful thing preserved and saved for you.