It's Sneaky, Like A Snake

# 91 Today's Prime Time Devo comes from: 1Ti 3:2 A bishop (pastor) then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; Next on the list of qualifications for the prospective pastor is he must not be covetous. This word is very closely related to “not greedy for money. “As quarrelsome is also closely related to “not violent.” And as “gentle” (with the idea of moderation) is closely linked to “not given to wine.” It's as if the Holy Spirit is putting added emphasis on these three traits through the use of repetition! Having said that, let's talk a little bit more about the sin of covetousness. This sin is difficult to pin down, because it is a sin of the heart. Yet it is such a serious sin, that it gets its own commandment in the Ten. “Thou shalt not covet.” The problem with coveting is it causes a desire for power, position, and possessions to unseat the desire for God in our hearts, and that's why it is called idolatry! Col 3:5 says, “Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Covetousness has been called the mother of sin because the desire to sin first arises in the heart before it finds expression in the act. Think of Eve and the mother of all sins: Ge 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. The word desired here means covet! That's where it all began! All Christians need to be on guard against this sin, but if it becomes an apparent character trait of the pastor, then he is not qualified for this office. If he's in it for power, position, or possessions, he cannot serve the flock as instructed by the Holy Spirit in 1Pe 5:2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; Pastor, ask yourself this question often. Am I serving my sheep eagerly or greedily? Ask it often. Bring your attitude before the Lord often, because still another danger of covetousness is it is like a snake.....very sneaky