p. 6 | The Covetous Heart and Its Remedy by E. Hilliard

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 15, 1915

The Covetous Heart and Its Remedy

By E. Hilliard

E. HILLIARD

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jer. 17:9. The Lord alone knows the selfish, deceitful heart of man. It was said of Jesus that he “needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.” John 2:25. He knows the origin of sin; for he said, “Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” Matt. 15:19. All have inherited these sinful propensities; “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” It is true that social environment and the fear of punishment often restrain men from committing criminal deeds. But such restraint does not contribute to true character building. The would-be transgressor who is restrained by law is not a whit better at heart than he who commits the overt act and takes the risk of penal infliction.

It is the evil thought that leads to the evil deed. The sin of covetousness is so deeply rooted in the natural heart that, if indulged, it leads to dishonesty, theft, and murder. A dishonest deal may not come under the ban of civil law, but in the books above it is registered under the heading of lying and stealing. This sin grows rapidly in the soil of the unconverted heart. Men who are controlled by it devise wicked schemes. They will “work evil upon their beds. When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.” This reveling in covetous thoughts leads to acts of violence. Says the prophet, “They covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his heritage.” Micah 2:1, 2. Upon such God has pronounced a woe. “Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth.” Isa. 5:8. All this is wrapped up in covetous thoughts. It is the climax of sin that reveals the iniquity concealed in the germ. We should not know the exceeding sinfulness of unobstructed covetousness if the Bible did not reveal it to us. Truly the unregenerate heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. No one but God, who knows the full results of sin, can reveal to us its enormity. How willingly we should submit to his remedy, no matter how severe the trial required to eradicate sin from the heart!

Covetousness is a dangerous soul-malady. It is a sin through which Satan will especially work to ensnare and destroy many of God’s remnant people. We read in “Early Writings” that Satan has instructed his angels to lay snares, especially for those who are looking for Christ’s second coming and are keeping all the commandments of God. “Go,” said he, “make the possessors of lands and money drunk with cares. If you can make them place their affections on these things, we shall have them yet. . . . Present every plausible excuse to those who have means, lest they hand it out. Control the money matters if you can, and drive their ministers to want and distress. This will weaken their courage and zeal.”—Pages 266, 267.

Can it be that any man of means who is looking for the soon return of our blessed Lord is now being ensnared by increasing his earthly possessions? Has not the time come for such to deposit their means in the cause of God, without interest? Whoever is greedily adding to his possessions in these perilous times is under the influence of the prince of darkness, and is being led captive by him at his will.

Feed covetousness and it will thrive. The remedy for this soul-destroying disease is the starvation cure. Starve it out by giving. “Freely ye have received, freely give.” Free, systematic giving is all that will, through the grace of Christ, keep this sin from controlling the man.

Spasmodic giving will not eradicate greed from the heart. On this point we read:—

“The grace of God and the light of truth may melt away their covetous, selfish feelings for a little, but if they do not obtain entire victory, Satan comes in when they are not under a saving influence, and withers every noble, generous principle, and they think that too much is required of them. They become weary of well-doing, and forget the great sacrifice which Jesus made to redeem them from the power of Satan and from hopeless misery. . . . God requires a constant doing on the part of his people; and when they become weary of well-doing, he becomes weary of them. I saw that he is greatly displeased with the least manifestation of selfishness on the part of his professed people, for whom Jesus spared not his own precious life. Every selfish, covetous person will fall out by the way.”—Id., pages 267, 268.

We are instructed by the spirit of prophecy that some will come when it is too late and offer their means to the servants of God. But when they learn that their means cannot be used, they will turn away in anguish of soul. O, how much better to come now with joy of heart, and by selling our possessions and giving alms, transfer our possessions to the kingdom of God! If those who selfishly withhold their means from the cause of God when it is so sorely needed, should be permitted to enter heaven and

there behold the great sacrifice made for their redemption, they would be miserable. The selfish, covetous heart would not enjoy that unselfish, holy place. Now, just now, is our time to follow the example of him who was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich. 2 Cor. 8:9.

Who will deposit their property in heaven by giving it to the cause of God on earth? Better, far better, be unselfishly poor than selfishly rich. “Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” If we love him, we shall willingly give to save those for whom he died.

St. Paul, Minn.