Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament

⁴ You have petitioned for a kindness; hear counsel. “I say unto you, Beware of all covetousness.” “Perhaps,” he would say, “you would call him covetous and greedy, if he were seeking another's goods; but I say, seek not even your own greedily or covetously.” This is “Of all, beware of all covetousness.” A heavy burden this! If by any chance this burden be imposed on them that are weak; let Him be sought unto, that He who imposes it, may vouchsafe to give us strength.

For it is not a thing to be lightly regarded, my Brethren, when our Lord, our Redeemer, our Saviour, who died for us, who gave His Own Blood as our ransom, to redeem us, our Advocate and Judge; it is no light matter when He says, “Beware.” He knows well how great the evil is; we know it not, let us believe Him. “Beware,” says He. Wherefore? Of what? “of all covetousness.” I am but keeping what is my own, I am not taking away another's; “Beware of all covetousness.” Not only is he covetous, who plunders the goods of others; but he is covetous too, who greedily keeps his own.

But if he is so blamed who greedily keeps his own; how is he condemned who plunders what is another's! “Beware,” He says, “of all covetousness: For a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.” He that stores up great abundance, how much does he take therefrom to live? When he has taken it, and in a way separated in thought sufficient to live upon from it, let him consider for whom the rest remains; lest haply when you keep wherewith to live, you are gathering only wherewith to die.

Behold Christ, behold truth, behold severity. “Beware,” says truth: “Beware,” says severity. If you love not the truth, fear severity. “A man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.” Believe Him, He does not deceive you. On the other hand, you say, “Yea, 'a man's life' does 'consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses.'” He does not deceive you; you deceive yourself.