“The leech has two daughters— give and Give! There are three things that are never satisfied, four never say, ‘Enough!’”
(Prov. 30:15, NKJV)
Dealing with the spirit of perversion in the life of believers is such a broad and diverse theme that we’ve spent quite some time discussing it, and yet there are still many aspects to cover. In various sub-themes we examined the perversion of believers and that which pollutes their faith functioning, for instance the inability to love oneself, self-hatred (as opposed to self-acceptance and self-love), an inability to forgive (and the importance of forgiveness), despondency and depression, and narcissism.
One of the states related to narcissism and selfishness is covetousness. Jesus makes it very clear: “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” (Luke 12:15). Solomon’s sketching in the quotation above is a masterful metaphor – covetousness is a leech that is never satisfied, and robs everyone around it of their life blood. It also becomes an inequity that spreads into the next generation (“two daughters”).
Covetousness can be defined as the excessive, obsessive and insatiable desire or urge to own things. These can be commodities, money, objects, or whatever. The goal of covetousness is to accumulate as much as possible, far more than one needs. It can often be linked to the acquiring of riches, status and power, driven by your desire to possess/own at all costs. The psychologist Erich Fromm aptly summarised the implications of covetousness: “Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.”
People who propagate covetousness as a positive attribute, just barely veiled as quasi-ethical, argue that it is the quintessential element of the evolutionary spirit. In the popular 1987-film, Wall Street, the following statement is made, justifying covetousness as an evolutionary necessity for the survival of the fittest: “greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind.”
Perhaps secular humanism can try to justify it based on such shaky grounds, but it is alas a clearly fabricated lie sporting demonic veneer. Covetousness is clearly an inequity (Isa. 57:17), an evil that springs forth from the inner man (Mark 7:22-23). Covetousness is one of the fruits of someone who “did not like to retain God in their knowledge” (Rom. 1:28-29). Covetousness leads to all kinds of other impure activities (Eph. 4:19).
In the following teaching we will try to unearth the deep-seated root of this perversity.
- Selah: Do you covet?
- Read: 1-7.
- Memorise: 4:1-3.
- For a more in-depth understanding: Read the book Transforming Your Dragons by José
