Coveting and other sins

Coveting is linked with other sins

Idolatry

Ephesians 5:5 NASB95

For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

See also 1 Co 10:6–7; Col 3:5

Pride

Psalm 10:3 NASB95

For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire, And the greedy man curses and spurns the Lord.

Sexual sin

Matthew 5:28 NASB95

but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

See also 1 Th 4:5

Laziness

Proverbs 21:25–26 NASB95

The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his hands refuse to work; All day long he is craving, While the righteous gives and does not hold back.

Covetousness is one of many sins which pollute a person

Mark 7:21–23 NASB95

“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. “All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”

Love of money is covetousness

It is a source of evil

1 Timothy 6:9–10 NASB95

But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

See also Pr 10:2; Pr 22:16; Pr 28:20; Pr 28:22; Pr 30:8–9

Examples of those who love money

Lk 16:14; Jn 12:5–6

See also Mt 23:25; 2 Pe 2:3; 2 Pe 2:14 False teachers are “experts in greed”.

Believers must not be lovers of money

Heb 13:5; 1 Pe 5:2 Elders must not be greedy for money.

See also Ex 18:21; Eph 5:3; 1 Ti 3:1–3

Love of money characterises the last days

2 Timothy 3:1–2 NASB95

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

Coveting brings trouble

James 4:1–2 NASB95

What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.

See also Pr 15:27; Pr 28:25; Pr 29:4

Even a gift can be given covetously

2 Co 9:5 The gift translated as “one grudgingly given” literally means a “covetous gift”.