For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
The verse means that the wicked boast of what their selfish hearts desire and speak well of, praise and approve greedy people, while the Lord hates and abhors the greedy. It describes those who love the world and are fully resolved to become rich and to store up treasure on earth, regardless of God's claims upon them and at the risk of disobeying Christ. The covetousness condemned here is the fruit of selfishness, always opposed to Christian beneficence. It dishonors God and shows itself in neglect of duty and in failure to use God's entrusted gifts to advance His work.
Allowing a covetous disposition to take possession cherishes and develops traits that record the name in heaven as an idolater, for such covetousness is idolatry. No covetous idolater has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. The covetous are classed with idolaters, adulterers, thieves, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners, none of whom shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Those in this class cannot remain there but must be converted. Covetousness must be rejected along with injustice, with disposition and habits of life free from covetousness and content with what they have, trusting the promise never to be left nor forsaken. When members of the church are given to covetousness and joined to the world, which God abhors, He can do little for them.
The verse means that the wicked boast of what their selfish hearts desire and speak well of, praise and approve greedy people, while the Lord hates and abhors the greedy. It describes those who love the world and are fully resolved to become rich and to store up treasure on earth, regardless of God's claims upon them and at the risk of disobeying Christ. The covetousness condemned here is the fruit of selfishness, always opposed to Christian beneficence. It dishonors God and shows itself in neglect of duty and in failure to use God's entrusted gifts to advance His work.
Allowing a covetous disposition to take possession cherishes and develops traits that record the name in heaven as an idolater, for such covetousness is idolatry. No covetous idolater has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. The covetous are classed with idolaters, adulterers, thieves, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners, none of whom shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Those in this class cannot remain there but must be converted. Covetousness must be rejected along with injustice, with disposition and habits of life free from covetousness and content with what they have, trusting the promise never to be left nor forsaken. When members of the church are given to covetousness and joined to the world, which God abhors, He can do little for them.