The year 2005 is here and many have made New Years resolutions, but how many were made with the spirit of covetousness? Many will pray that they are blessed like someone else or that their ministry will grow like someone else’s. We must learn to covet what God has for US. Yes, God will give us the desires of our hearts but our desires should be His, for us. A godly man never indulges a desire, which he cannot form into a prayer to God. From murder to depression, covetousness is prevalent in the streets and in the church. Many are stressed out because they never obtain what someone else possess or question God because He has not given them what they have prayed for. I pray as we take a brief look at covetousness, that the Holy Spirit will convict us and show us how to guard our hearts against it.

To covet simply means, "to desire earnestly". It can be used in two senses:

a. Good, simply to desire earnestly but legitimately.

“But earnestly covet the best gifts..." - 1 Corinthians 12:31

b. Bad, to desire unlawfully, or to secure illegitimately.

“You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, and you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field or his male servant or his female servant, his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” - Deuteronomy 5:21

The Fetus of so many Sins. a. Idolatry b. Lying c. Lust

After studying Covetousness, I have discovered that it’s in a very real sense, the root of so many sins.

MURDER
I lost two of my brothers because of covetousness. My brother Larry was very popular at school and on tha block. He played music, sports and was bandleader. Because of his reputation some people were jealous of him. Over time, his popularity attracted the wrong crowd. Some of the cats that sold drugs at his school coveted Larry’s influence on people, so they wanted him to be down so that drug sells would increase. Larry hung with them but refused to promote or sell drugs, so they murdered him.

My other brother Keith was totally different. He sold drugs to obtain what he coveted. For years it would amaze me how he would avoid the law and death. What’s deep is that I coveted him. I thought he was invincible, I coveted his ghetto riches and he was my rock. If I didn’t make it in secular music I could always sell drugs with my bruh. But in 1993, Keith was tortured and murdered. Now when I look back at his death, Keith was murdered for what he coveted (money, drugs, power, street fame, women, etc.).

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with having material possessions. But when the possessions possess you, it often leads you into doing illegitimate/ungodly things to obtain them. Which leads me to my next point.

False Doctrines/Teachings
Name it and Claim it: Telling God, instead of asking!

I remember when I first started my Ceramic Tile Company in 1999 and I needed transportation. I had wanted a Ford F-350 Duelly but my pockets could only afford a Escort. My Aunt told me to claim it and God will give it to me. Deep inside I knew better but I still did it.

For two months I had to drive around in my momma’s Grand Am with my tools hangin’ out the back. Now yall know how that looked! Then one day I dropped to my knees and repented for telling God, instead of asking Him. I had wanted to look good, so instead of asking for what I needed, I claimed what I coveted (Matt 6:31-33). About 3 days after I repented, God had blessed me with a brand new 2000 Savana work van, $0 down! What’s deep is that if God had given me the Ford Pickup, it wouldn’t have been practical for my trade and to make it practical, would have cost me thousands. It would have caused me grief, similar to what happened to the Israelites….

"They soon forgot His work; they did not wait for His counsel. But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tested God in the desert. And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul.”
- Psalm 106:13-15

You'll be shocked that the things we covet, troubles the person who possesses it.

God allowed me to be around a lot of millionaire entertainers to keep my mindset in order about obtaining riches. I saw fast that money was not the key to happiness. An old friend of mine Chris Webber use to always tell me that after about two to three days, the material items mean absolutely nothing.

Often when someone famous and rich gets in trouble, the first thing many of us say is, "If I had their money, I would have never did that!" or "That's what they get, they put themselves in that position" or "If I had his wife I would never cheat."

No one blew it like the Rich Young Ruler in Luke. He refused to give up his earthy riches for the treasures in heaven. Jesus didn't "dog" him. Luke 18:24 says, "He (Jesus) became very sorrowful." We need to pray for rich people because they are easily tempted to depend on their money instead of God. So the next time you see someone famous & rich make a bad mistake, have compassion and pray for them.

Christians in a Bucket!
Covetousness in the church

Many of us can’t move on what God has called us to do because we covet what someone else has. I see so often in Holy Hip Hop (HHH), people coveting each other’s gifts or visions that God has given them. If God has blessed you with the gift to reach the streets, someone will say you compromise. If God has blessed you with the gift to minister to the church, someone will say you’re too “preachy.” Coveting after what someone else has, will keep you idle. Even so-called innocent prayers such as, “Lord bless me with a record distribution like them” or “Lord if you give me their resources, I will do more.” These types of prayers come from a spirit of covetousness. Instead we should pray, “Lord, let your will be done.” We should show unified support when a HHH artist releases a “doctrinally sound” CD, but instead we have cliques. We are supposed to operate as a body but covetousness has affected the body like cancer. God has given us the Bible to show us the warning signs but we still continue to operate the same. It’s similar to when a smoker buys a pack of cigarettes. They see the warning on the pack but they smoke anyway. Then when cancer is discovered, it’s too late and then they wonder why. I would hate for this movement to not take heed to the warning signs and become ineffective in reaching the lost.

Run in your lane!
“Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.” - 1 Corinthians 9:24

COVET WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU!

Last but never least…

COVET THE GREATEST GIFT EVER!

JESUS! Covet your relationship with Him and His love for you. And remember, He’s the New Life Resolution.

- Ya brother in Christ, Maji