Part 4 (1/2)

The UCLA survey also found that the percentage of college freshmen who said developing a meaningful philosophy of life was a top priority fell from 83 percent to 41 percent. Today half as many college freshmen value a meaningful philosophy of life as did freshmen thirty years ago. 2 2 Notice the evidences of coveting att.i.tudes and spreading wealth in society: -- Stealing on the job is more than $400 billion per year.

-- In 1999 40 percent of boys and 30 percent of girls stole something from a store.

-- Since 1970 America has generated for its people each year an average $700 billion of new wealth.

-- The number of millionaires soared from 120,000 in 1970 to almost 2 million in 2000. 3 3 WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE...

I could go on and on with statistics until we are all feeling seasick. But here's the bottom line: You don't have to tell a man drowning in the ocean that he has a water problem, and you don't have to tell a group of people who are drowning in a sea of covetousness that we have a materialism problem. The ironic thing is that it doesn't feel like a ”water problem.” Covetousness makes you feel dry and thirsty, like a desert. And no wonder; G.o.d will not tolerate murmuring, and covetousness is one of the five wilderness att.i.tudes that const.i.tutes murmuring. murmuring.

Constant covetousness was one of the att.i.tudes that caused G.o.d to send a whole generation of His children into the wilderness to die. His stern words to Moses in Numbers 14 ring with judgment for those who grumble, or murmur.

How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who are grumbling against Me? . . . Say to them, ”As I live,” says the Lord, ”just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will surely do to you; your corpses will fall in this wilderness, even all your numbered men, according to your complete number from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against Me.” (verses 2729) WHAT COVETOUSNESS IS.

Here's a four-part definition of covetousness. First, covetousness is wanting wrong things. covetousness is wanting wrong things. Wanting power without a reason. Wanting control so I can be at the center. Wanting wealth for myself. Wanting glory and praise from others. In other words, Wanting power without a reason. Wanting control so I can be at the center. Wanting wealth for myself. Wanting glory and praise from others. In other words, wanting wrong things. wanting wrong things.

Second, covetousness is also wanting right things for wrong reasons. wanting right things for wrong reasons. Take, for example, the role of spiritual leaders.h.i.+p. The Bible says that if a man desires the office of an elder, he desires a good thing (1 Timothy 3:17). Wanting to be a spiritual leader and make an impact on the lives of others-that's a great thing to want. But you have to not just want it; you have to want it for the right reasons. To want it for the wrong reasons, like personal recognition or power over others, or for a personal agenda-that is covetousness. Take, for example, the role of spiritual leaders.h.i.+p. The Bible says that if a man desires the office of an elder, he desires a good thing (1 Timothy 3:17). Wanting to be a spiritual leader and make an impact on the lives of others-that's a great thing to want. But you have to not just want it; you have to want it for the right reasons. To want it for the wrong reasons, like personal recognition or power over others, or for a personal agenda-that is covetousness.

There is a third aspect to covetousness. Covetousness is not just wanting wrong things or wanting right things for the wrong reasons. Covetousness is also wanting right things at the wrong time. wanting right things at the wrong time. A young couple comes in and sits down for premarital counseling. They say, ”We love Christ and we love each other. We've committed ourselves to a lifetime together. We're going to get married in three months, but we want to start sleeping together now!” They want right things. They want them for the right reasons. But they want them at the wrong time. That's also covetousness. A young couple comes in and sits down for premarital counseling. They say, ”We love Christ and we love each other. We've committed ourselves to a lifetime together. We're going to get married in three months, but we want to start sleeping together now!” They want right things. They want them for the right reasons. But they want them at the wrong time. That's also covetousness.

The final aspect of covetousness is wanting right things but wanting them in the wrong amount. wanting right things but wanting them in the wrong amount. Take, for example, money. Money is not a wrong thing; it's a necessary part of life. Paul told Timothy that if a person doesn't provide for his own-that means anyone in one's extended family who has need-if a husband, for example, doesn't do everything he can to provide for his own, Take, for example, money. Money is not a wrong thing; it's a necessary part of life. Paul told Timothy that if a person doesn't provide for his own-that means anyone in one's extended family who has need-if a husband, for example, doesn't do everything he can to provide for his own, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8). Providing for others requires that we make money, and yet it puts us in danger of not knowing when to stop. When I want more money than I need to adequately provide for my family, that is covetousness. I may think that more money will make me happy, but I will soon learn it does not. More of anything other than G.o.d will never fill that longing for fulfillment He has placed within you and me. So, to summarize: (1 Timothy 5:8). Providing for others requires that we make money, and yet it puts us in danger of not knowing when to stop. When I want more money than I need to adequately provide for my family, that is covetousness. I may think that more money will make me happy, but I will soon learn it does not. More of anything other than G.o.d will never fill that longing for fulfillment He has placed within you and me. So, to summarize: Covetousness is wanting wrong things, or wanting right things for the wong reasons, or at the wrong time, or in the wrong amount. Covetousness is wanting wrong things, or wanting right things for the wong reasons, or at the wrong time, or in the wrong amount.

THE BARRIER...

I have learned over many years of teaching the Lord's people, especially in North America, that covetousness has a powerful stronghold in people's lives. In fact, we are not only in bondage to covetousness, but we are in serious denial about it. Therefore, I challenge you to open your heart as wide as you know how. Be willing to submit yourself to G.o.d's Word as we move deep into this biblical study of covetousness. Is it possible that the desire for greater joy and blessing in your life which has kept you reading this far, has been frustrated because of this matter of covetousness? Let's open G.o.d's Word together, and allow Him to deal with us as He wills.

...And Three Short Acts The events recorded in Numbers 11:435 break down into three short acts, much like a play. In between those acts, there are brief changes in subject, like intermissions. Then the action returns to the main sto#x2019;ine again.

ACT I: Yielding to Covetousness and Why G.o.d Hates It (Numbers 11:410) I call Act I, ”Yielding To Covetousness and Why G.o.d Hates It.” Three realities from the text amplify that heading. Here's the first: Covetousness becomes sin when we yield. Covetousness becomes sin when we yield.

Look at Numbers 11:4: ”Now the mixed mult.i.tude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: 'Who will give us meat to eat?'” ”Now the mixed mult.i.tude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said: 'Who will give us meat to eat?'” (NKJV). (NKJV).

The New International Version New International Version and the and the New American Standard Bible New American Standard Bible translate ”mixed mult.i.tude” as ”rabble.” The term refers to Egyptian people and Israelite people who had intermarried. Please note that interracial marriage is translate ”mixed mult.i.tude” as ”rabble.” The term refers to Egyptian people and Israelite people who had intermarried. Please note that interracial marriage is not not forbidden in the Bible anywhere. Intermarriage of different races in the Bible is forbidden in the Bible anywhere. Intermarriage of different races in the Bible is never never condemned. What is condemned in the Bible is condemned. What is condemned in the Bible is interfaith interfaith marriages. So the ”mixed mult.i.tude” of Numbers 11:4 refers to wors.h.i.+ppers of false G.o.ds married to wors.h.i.+ppers of the one, true G.o.d. Over and over, Scripture says those two things do not go together. marriages. So the ”mixed mult.i.tude” of Numbers 11:4 refers to wors.h.i.+ppers of false G.o.ds married to wors.h.i.+ppers of the one, true G.o.d. Over and over, Scripture says those two things do not go together.

This mixed mult.i.tude mixed mult.i.tude (circle the next words if you have your Bible open) ”yielded to intense craving.” The NASB says, ”had greedy desires.” What the phrase means literally is that they ”craved a craving.” They started looking for something else to make them happy. They wanted to want something other that what they had. Sometimes I go to the fridge like that. Not really hungry but not really satisfied. Sort of looking and waiting for something to grab me. As bad as that can be for our diets, it can be even more devastating if we are doing that in life. Sort of surveying the landscape of our behavior options, looking for something that might make us happier than we are at a particular moment. (circle the next words if you have your Bible open) ”yielded to intense craving.” The NASB says, ”had greedy desires.” What the phrase means literally is that they ”craved a craving.” They started looking for something else to make them happy. They wanted to want something other that what they had. Sometimes I go to the fridge like that. Not really hungry but not really satisfied. Sort of looking and waiting for something to grab me. As bad as that can be for our diets, it can be even more devastating if we are doing that in life. Sort of surveying the landscape of our behavior options, looking for something that might make us happier than we are at a particular moment.

We all have desires come into our minds. I could command you: ”Don't let any desires for anything come into your mind at all.” Now that would be a cruel trick! You'd immediately start thinking of things that you would like to have or like to experience. It is practically impossible impossible not to desire things, experiences, and situations. So people are always asking the question, ”When is it sin? When does a covetous thought or desire become a sin?” not to desire things, experiences, and situations. So people are always asking the question, ”When is it sin? When does a covetous thought or desire become a sin?”

Men will frequently say, ”I see a woman and a l.u.s.tful thought occurs to me; when does that looking looking become sin?” Or, ”I'm in a state-ofthe-art shopping mall, and I just entered my favorite store. In my billfold is at least one credit card that isn't 'maxed out.' I'm thinking about buying something for which I know I don't have the money. Actually, I don't even need that item. But I'm thinking about buying it, anyway. When does covetousness become sin? Is it a sin to become sin?” Or, ”I'm in a state-ofthe-art shopping mall, and I just entered my favorite store. In my billfold is at least one credit card that isn't 'maxed out.' I'm thinking about buying something for which I know I don't have the money. Actually, I don't even need that item. But I'm thinking about buying it, anyway. When does covetousness become sin? Is it a sin to think think about it? When is it a sin?” Here's the answer: about it? When is it a sin?” Here's the answer: Covetousness becomes active sin when we yield.

It's a sin when we yield. By sin, I mean a sin of action. Of course, wrong att.i.tudes are also sinful. That is the theme of our book. By sin, I mean a sin of action. Of course, wrong att.i.tudes are also sinful. That is the theme of our book.

The Bible teaches that even as believers we still have two natures. (Check out Romans 7.) There is the old part of us that wants to sin and satisfy itself, and there is a new nature that we receive when we are born again (2 Corinthians 5:17), which wants to live righteously and please G.o.d. Like two cars approaching the same intersection at the same time, our two natures are often on a collision course with each other. Galatians 5:17 says that our two natures actually battle one another, but eventually one yields. Our new nature calls for us to do what is right, and our old nature calls for us to do what is wrong. When we obey the covetous demands of our old nature and yield, we have gone from att.i.tude si to action sin.

Back to Numbers 11:4: ”The mixed mult.i.tude who were among them ”The mixed mult.i.tude who were among them yielded yielded to intense craving” to intense craving” (italics added). They gave in to those desires. Romans 8:5 says, (italics added). They gave in to those desires. Romans 8:5 says, ”For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit” ”For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit” (NKJV). You're standing in front of a refrigerator. You know the last thing you need is that piece of chocolate cake. Then you see it, look at it, and want it, but it's not sin yet. You take out the cake and put it on the counter. Now you're on the edge. You get out a knife with very specific intent, cut a bigger piece than you need, and begin to stuff it in your mouth- you're done. The struggle is over. You've yielded. I'm belaboring this distinction because there is so much false guilt people feel for sensing wrong desires. Intense awareness of the attractiveness of sin is not sin. When we yield, we've ignored the warning signs. (NKJV). You're standing in front of a refrigerator. You know the last thing you need is that piece of chocolate cake. Then you see it, look at it, and want it, but it's not sin yet. You take out the cake and put it on the counter. Now you're on the edge. You get out a knife with very specific intent, cut a bigger piece than you need, and begin to stuff it in your mouth- you're done. The struggle is over. You've yielded. I'm belaboring this distinction because there is so much false guilt people feel for sensing wrong desires. Intense awareness of the attractiveness of sin is not sin. When we yield, we've ignored the warning signs. Yielding Yielding to covetousness is what G.o.d hates. Covetousness becomes overtly sinful when we yield. to covetousness is what G.o.d hates. Covetousness becomes overtly sinful when we yield.

You say, ”Why do people yield? I don't want to yield.” If you really mean that, this next principle will help you greatly.

When we dwell on desire, yielding is only a matter of time.

When you dwell on the desire, when you focus on the thing that you're wanting, you're hanging on the edge by your fingernails.

Notice that the Israelites were yielding to intense craving. First, they asked the question in verse 4, ”Who will give us meat to eat?” ”Who will give us meat to eat?” Then they started dwelling on their desire. Then they started dwelling on their desire. ”We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cuc.u.mbers and the melons” ”We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cuc.u.mbers and the melons” (verse 5). ”Oh, the fish; we remember the fish.” Here they were in the middle of the wilderness, and G.o.d had been feeding them manna. ”Oh, the fis.h.!.+ And the cuc.u.mbers! You never saw cuc.u.mbers like this! Big and juicy and piles of them-incredible! And the melons! Thousands of melons, more than we could ever eat! And the leeks and the onions and the garlic”-well, I guess that's a little harder to relate to. (verse 5). ”Oh, the fish; we remember the fish.” Here they were in the middle of the wilderness, and G.o.d had been feeding them manna. ”Oh, the fis.h.!.+ And the cuc.u.mbers! You never saw cuc.u.mbers like this! Big and juicy and piles of them-incredible! And the melons! Thousands of melons, more than we could ever eat! And the leeks and the onions and the garlic”-well, I guess that's a little harder to relate to.

Notice how covetousness inflates the pleasure. When you covet something, you begin to make it more attractive and accessible than it really is, because you want it. You convince yourself you can pay for it. Eating too much? You promise yourself you'll diet tomorrow. Smoking? ”I know lots of people who have smoked for fifty years and they're still healthy.” You create rationalizations in order to get the thing you want. Covetousness inflates the desire while it ignores the danger.

It is very unlikely that the children of Israel, as slaves in Egypt, had melons and cuc.u.mbers and all these things to eat. They remembered selectively! The fish, cuc.u.mbers, melons and the leeks, onions, and garlic were back in Egypt all right, but not for the children of Israel. If they saw a cuc.u.mber or something fresh and wonderful, it wasn't for them to eat. They were slaves and were very harshly treated. They were not eating at a buffet every night; that's for sure. They had a spa.r.s.e diet. But as they dwelt upon the past, their memories became radically selective.

In that sense, we are just like the children of Israel. It is impossible for us to dwell on desire for any length of time without rationalizing a way to get it by making the particular sin more attractive and accessible than it really is. When we dwell on desire, yielding is only a matter of time. Dwelling on a sinful desire is like starting the countdown for the s.p.a.ce shuttle-it's just a matter of time until liftoff. So if you're dwelling on a desire, you can set the clock; yielding is only a matter of time for you. Yes, your wilderness experience is just around the corner.

Nowwatch that principle work itself out with the children of Israel. ”But now our appet.i.te is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna” ”But now our appet.i.te is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna” (verse 6). Can you hear the disgust in their voices as they look at what G.o.d had provided them to eat? As if to say, ”This is lame, G.o.d, You call this meeting our needs? The same thing every day, every week, every month; we are getting so sick and tired of this ___” (expletive deleted). (verse 6). Can you hear the disgust in their voices as they look at what G.o.d had provided them to eat? As if to say, ”This is lame, G.o.d, You call this meeting our needs? The same thing every day, every week, every month; we are getting so sick and tired of this ___” (expletive deleted).

Was the manna really that bad? Verse 7 describes the manna, the bread that G.o.d rained down from heaven. ”The manna was like coriander seed” ”The manna was like coriander seed” -OK, sort of a sesame seed deal- -OK, sort of a sesame seed deal- ”and its appearance like that of bdellium” ”and its appearance like that of bdellium” (verse 7). (verse 7). Bdellium? Bdellium? Actually, the word Actually, the word bdellium bdellium is a common Hebrew word that meant the manna was pearl-like in appearance. Exodus 16:4 indicates that G.o.d had given the manna as a test. He wanted to know if they would walk in obedience and be thankful for His provision or if they would covet something more, or better, or different. Every day they went out to gather the manna, and every day G.o.d was inspecting their att.i.tudes. He was not very impressed. is a common Hebrew word that meant the manna was pearl-like in appearance. Exodus 16:4 indicates that G.o.d had given the manna as a test. He wanted to know if they would walk in obedience and be thankful for His provision or if they would covet something more, or better, or different. Every day they went out to gather the manna, and every day G.o.d was inspecting their att.i.tudes. He was not very impressed.

In fact, they began crying over their ”plight,” even though the manna tasted like ”cakes baked with oil” ”cakes baked with oil” and fell nightly: and fell nightly: ”When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna would fall with it. Now Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, each man at the doorway of his tent” ”When the dew fell on the camp at night, the manna would fall with it. Now Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, each man at the doorway of his tent” (verses 910a). (verses 910a).

Can you imagine that? They were so bent about the gap between what the Lord was giving them and what they wanted that they were actually lying in their tents and crying about it. Can you get like that? Can you get so worked up about wanting something that G.o.d isn't giving you that you weep?

That's what happened: ”Weeping throughout their families, each man at the doorway of his tent.” What a sick picture! Talk about losing perspective. If you had walked with Moses through the tents at that time, you would have heard the moans and groans, the sobs and the sniffles. ”Wa waaaa wa waaaaaaa,” like little babies. Every flag at half-mast as if the nation was in mourning. Here is G.o.d's heart in the matter: ”The anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, and Moses was displeased” ”The anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, and Moses was displeased” (verse 10b). (verse 10b).

At the root of covetousness is a rejection of G.o.d's sufficiency.

That's really the bottom line, and it's the reason G.o.d hates covetousness. In effect, they were slapping G.o.d's face by saying; ”It's not enough, G.o.d. Nice try, but it's not enough. I have needs, and You're not taking care of them. You promised to be all I need, but You're just not meeting my expectations.”

Remember that 1 Corinthians 10:11 says that what happened to them was as an example for us. G.o.d has also provided for our basic needs. The question is, Will we be grateful and satisfied with G.o.d and His provision for us? Or will we covet more and better and different? Our problem is not that we don't want G.o.d; it's that we covet G.o.d and and ...For instance, we covet: ...For instance, we covet: -- G.o.d and and the perfect spouse. the perfect spouse.

-- G.o.d and and an impressive career. an impressive career.

-- G.o.d and and the house by the lake. the house by the lake.

-- G.o.d and and the exotic vacation and the big bonus and whatever catches our fancy next. the exotic vacation and the big bonus and whatever catches our fancy next.

-- G.o.d and and ___________ (you fill in the blank). ___________ (you fill in the blank).

What will it take for us to come to that settled place where the central pa.s.sion of our lives is, ”G.o.d, I just want You. All Your joy and peace and fullness and friends.h.i.+p, and that's enough for me.”

The hard truth is that at the root of my covetous att.i.tude I am rejecting the sufficiency of G.o.d in my life. I'm saying in effect, ”G.o.d, You're not enough for me. You're fineYou fit, but my life had better be a lot more than just You. I need experiences and relations.h.i.+ps and opportunities, lots of them in increasing measure. My life had better not be boring, G.o.d. I've gotta have lots of grins and lots of fun all the time. It's fine if wors.h.i.+p is one of them, but I want way more than that.” As common as that kind of thinking may be, it is definitely a wilderness att.i.tude, and in case you're wondering about the consequences, they are right here in Numbers 11.

ACT II: A Gift from G.o.d You Don't Want (Numbers 11:1620) After a few verses of intermission, the curtain rises on Act II with G.o.d speaking to Moses: ”Say to the people, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept in the ears of the Lord ”Say to the people, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat; for you have wept in the ears of the Lord [think of that] [think of that] , saying, ”Oh that someone would give us meat to eat! For we were well-off in Egypt.” Therefore the Lord will give you meat and you shall eat'” , saying, ”Oh that someone would give us meat to eat! For we were well-off in Egypt.” Therefore the Lord will give you meat and you shall eat'” (verse 18). G.o.d's response came in ominous tones. To paraphrase: ”Do you want meat? Do you think that's such a big deal? You think that's better than Me? Do you think that's going to meet your needs? Do you think that's going to make you happy? That's what you've been begging and crying and whining and complaining about? You think that's better than Me? Really? Then you're going to have it!” And G.o.d gave it to them: (verse 18). G.o.d's response came in ominous tones. To paraphrase: ”Do you want meat? Do you think that's such a big deal? You think that's better than Me? Do you think that's going to meet your needs? Do you think that's going to make you happy? That's what you've been begging and crying and whining and complaining about? You think that's better than Me? Really? Then you're going to have it!” And G.o.d gave it to them: ”Therefore the Lord will give you meat and you shall eat. You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days, but a whole month” (verses 1820a). (verses 1820a).

Now if you really understand what was happening here, it should make you shudder. G.o.d was giving them something that was not really good for them. He was giving them something bad to teach them a good lesson. They thought what they were demanding was good, but it was going to ruin them. So significant was this action by G.o.d that several hundred years later it was still the talk of the Lord's people. In Psalm 106:15, G.o.d's action is mentioned, as well as the consequence that came after. ”He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul” ”He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul” (NKJV). In giving them what they ”had” to have, G.o.d withdrew Himself and thrust them into the wilderness. (NKJV). In giving them what they ”had” to have, G.o.d withdrew Himself and thrust them into the wilderness.

With G.o.d, we can be satisfied and fulfilled with very little, but without Him, all that we have will always be dry and deeply disappointing. They had all the meat they could eat. They could get physically fat if they wanted. But spiritually, they were starving. I wonder what thing in your life might parallel the meat the children of Israel had to have. Something you're coveting or craving, something you're putting your life on hold for, something for which you're continually begging G.o.d.

Nothing is essential but G.o.d. Things were never designed to take G.o.d's place. When we covet something and make it essential-and then beg G.o.d to give it to us-we are asking G.o.d to replace Himself with something we consider more important. When we do this, G.o.d will often allow us to experience firsthand the consequences of subst.i.tuting anything for Him. Maybe as you read this book you are hurting over the poor health of your own soul. Maybe G.o.d is bringing to mind even now something that you have subst.i.tuted for Him-a relations.h.i.+p or a financial goal, or a specific material dream about your future for which you have been suspending your happiness. Covetousness is such a cruel enemy. It promises prosperity and brings only painful poverty of spirit. Indeed: In time we may hate what we had to have.

Beware of begging G.o.d for nonessentials, because in time you may come to the place where you hate the very thing that you had to have. in time you may come to the place where you hate the very thing that you had to have.