Avarice — The Easy Sin

Violent crime draws much attention as a major sin in our society but avarice is a far more pervasive problem, and, in God’s sight, is also a deadly sin. The common Bible word for avarice is “covetousness” — the desire for things that we do not have. Sometimes the desire is a greedy craving for what someone else has; other times it is an unbalanced desire for houses, cars, clothing and comforts that greatly exceed our needs, and sometimes it takes the form of coveting the honor of men.

From the beginning

Avarice was the downfall of Eve. She wanted what she was told she could not have. She desired, took and ate of the fruit and mankind has suffered ever since. The sons of God lusted after the daughters of men and were slain in the flood. Lot coveted the comforts of Sodom and barely escaped with his life. Joseph’s brethren envied his favored position so they sold him into slavery. Achan coveted the gold of Jericho and died with his family. The list seems endless.

In each person, the seeds of avarice can be sown at the earliest of ages. When we spoil our children, buying them “things” every time they desire, we are starting them down the road of avarice and death.

Avarice leads to many sins

There is a startling analysis of the actions of the covetous in II Peter 2. The false teachers being exposed were driven by avarice: “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you” (II Peter 2:3).

Here are some of Peter’s descriptions of these men of avarice:

  1. Uncleanness (v.10) — a defilement or a pollution of the mind. This “lust of uncleanness” is one that easily defies authority of any kind. The man of avarice can lie without shame of face, he can cheat on his taxes without a pang of guilt. The sin of avarice causes one to become so dishonest that he plans his sin, plotting how he will explain it if someone questions him.
  2. Presumptuous (v.10). This attitude of mind is bold and daring. It describes a headstrong person, deter­mined to do things his own way in spite of knowing it’s wrong. Judas Iscariot was beset with avarice and presumed to present himself at the last supper and to kiss Christ in the garden.
  3. Blasphemous (vs. 14, 18) — profane speech. The man of avarice soon falls to using violent and evil words. Peter describes the betrayers within the Truth as men full of heresy who would with “feigned words” make merchandise of others. They would be unrestrained in their blasphemous statements against the Truth and those who followed it for the sake of their own selfish advantage.
  4. Irrational reasoning (vs. 18,19). This characteristic implies that Judas and those beset with covetousness could no longer receive instruction. The dollar signs in their eyes blinded them from seeing the truth. Mentally, the man of avarice becomes the fool of Proverbs and is likened to the sow that was washed going back to wallowing in the mire (Prov. 26:11).
  5. ..sporting (v.13). Even though all might see them, those exercised by avarice are completely indifferent to public opinion. They do not trouble themselves with what others think. They have hardened their heart and deadened their conscience. These enemies of the cross worship their belly, mind earthly things, glory in their shame and will find destruction as their end (Phil. 2:19).

Instant punishment

From this short list of characteristics, we can see that the person controlled by avarice might well be so de­testible to God that He would punish him on the spot. That is, in fact, what happened to Achan and Ananias and Sapphira, who were punished before the whole congregation.

Other descriptions

Some other passages of scripture are helpful on this subject:

“They that trust in their wealth and boast themselves in the multitude of riches…none of them can by any means redeem his brother…their inward thought is that their houses shall continue forever and their dwelling places to all generations…like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed upon them” (Psa. 49:6-7,11,14).

“Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God” (Mk. 10:24).

“Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith…better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right…neither give me poverty nor riches dear Lord; feed me with food convenient for me: lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal and take the name of my God in vain” (Prov. 15:16; 30:8-10).