Coveting and other sins

Coveting is linked with other sins

Idolatry

Ephesians 5:5 ESV

For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

See also 1 Co 10:6–7; Col 3:5

Pride

Psalm 10:3 ESV

For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord.

Sexual sin

Matthew 5:28 ESV

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

See also 1 Th 4:5

Laziness

Proverbs 21:25–26 ESV

The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor. All day long he craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back.

Covetousness is one of many sins which pollute a person

Mark 7:21–23 ESV

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”

Love of money is covetousness

It is a source of evil

1 Timothy 6:9–10 ESV

But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

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 ESV

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,

Coveting brings trouble

James 4:1–2 ESV

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet 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”.