Living by FaithSample

The Ruin of Covetousness

The Chaldeans’ lust and greed was such that they coveted the belongings of their neighbors. By violence, deceit and coercion they subjugated nations and plundered their property and people. The Chaldean economy was built by slave labor and thrived by ill-gotten wealth. Their covetousness was inhumane. 

All ill-gotten wealth comes at the expense of others. There are always victims. In 2009, the biggest corporate scam in Indian history came to light when Byrraju Ramalinga Raju, then Chairman and CEO of India’s fourth largest IT firm, Satyam Computer Services, confessed to embezzlement and accounting irregularities. The voracious greed of a few management executives resulted in cooking Satyam’s books with fictitious profits and siphoning money. This crime resulted in job losses, suspension of license for their accounting firm, and the loss of 14,000 crore rupees (roughly 186 Billion USD) for individuals who had invested in the firm. Raju, in his confession letter, said that “it was like riding a tiger, not knowing how to get off without being eaten.” That is ultimately what covetousness is; a man-eating tiger that will devour everything. 

God commands us to love our neighbors and that means we do not covet and plot to gain by deceitful and immoral means. In a world where corruption is rampant, God expects His children to walk uprightly. Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death (Proverbs 10:2). God will not be mocked and justice will be done. Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it (Proverbs 13:11). God calls His children to trust in His providence and be satisfied in Him. Unless we find everything in Jesus, we will always covet what others have. There is great gain in godliness with contentment (I Timothy 6:6) that nothing in this world can compare with.