Hindrances to Biblical Prosperity: Covetousness & Impulsiveness

We are 2 months into our Kingdom Victory series on biblical prosperity, and we aren't slowing down. This is a life-changing topic when truly understood and grasped in alignment with scripture. The last 3 weeks, we have addressed the things in our lives that might hinder us from walking in God's prosperity- a poverty mindset, spiritual blindness, and fear. Today we are going to continue disclosing more hidden encumbrances to prospering God's way.

Covetousness

This is a sneaky one as the society of the world is run by covetousness. The constant scrolling that says,

Buy this! - You don't have enough!

Look like this! - You aren't pretty enough!

Look like that! - You aren't handsome enough!

Move here! - Your house isn't good enough!

Wear this! - Your clothes aren't trendy enough!

Say this!

Act like that!

And pretty soon you are completely conformed to this world, and you have made yourself at enmity with God, all because you coveted everything the world told you that you lacked. And it was a lie the entire time.

**The grass is always greener elsewhere.**

“You shall not covet [that is, selfishly desire and attempt to acquire] your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Exodus 20:17 AMP

Whenever we yield our hearts to covetousness, greed, or lusting after what somebody else has, we remove ourselves from walking in the blessing of God. When your heart is lusting after someone else's stuff, you remove your heart from being able to receive from God.

What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you? You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask. And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.

You adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be a friend of the world renders himself an enemy of God. Or do you think the Scripture says without reason that the Spirit He caused to dwell in us yearns with envy? But He gives us more grace. This is why it says:

“God opposes the proud,

but gives grace to the humble.”

James 4:1-6 BSB

Coveting causes conflicts and quarrels in the midst of God's people. Covetousness is rooted in selfishness, proudly living by your own will instead of humbling yourself to God's will. Covetous desires come from a place of wanting to serve yourself and your own pleasures, not wanting to serve God. It results in friendship with the world, which makes you an enemy of God. Coveting brings opposition from God as He opposes those who walk in pride, while He gives grace to those who walk in humility.

Covetousness under the guise of Christianity

Many use the name of JESUS and the principles of biblical prosperity to believe for things they are coveting after. You can see many examples of this in the realm of influencers and social media, and in MLM's. They use the name of JESUS and peddle the WORD of God for their own selfish gain- for fame, to sell product and gain fortune, and to lord it over others.

Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God.

2 Corinthians 2:17

In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.

2 Peter 2:3

The way that these types of hucksters draw others in to begin with, is by appealing to their carnal desires, and manipulating them into thinking that they have something the others lack. Sometimes they are easy to point out, but more than ever the church must have a deep knowledge of the WORD in order to discern these types of "superapostles" (as Paul called them) in these current days. The way we deal with them? As Paul wrote to Timothy,

Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

2 Timothy 3:5

They lead your mind away from the pure and simple devotion to Christ, and deceive you into thinking that you lack. They entice you to look like them, dress like them, act like them, buy what they have, talk how they talk, until you are conformed to this worldly person, and not to Christ. This is the antithesis of the Gospel. The Gospel message is a life that draws attention to Christ, exalts Jesus, and glorifies God, not the self.

I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ...For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

2 Corinthians 11:3, 13-15

When you take notice of such people, just turn in the opposite direction. Turn away, and let their actions have their way with them. Set your focus on committing your life to the WORD of God, and don't let anyone or anything veer you from that path.

You may have to cut yourself off from people in different seasons of life because they do not choose to follow the WORD of God, but instead they choose to align themselves with the world and it's carnality. That is okay. You cannot let others hold you back from a life of obedience. You cannot serve man above God. You must commit yourself to God's WORD, and protect His WORD in your life at all costs. Coveting, or aligning yourself on an intimate level with covetous people, is a sure way to walk yourself off of God's path and onto the world's. And that leads to nothing but destruction. Your ultimate pursuit is God- serving Him and following His WORD by faith. Your pursuit is not of man. When your pursuit becomes that of man, your heart is given over to idolatry. Turn away from such who live lives of covetousness and greed, and run the race of God's purposes to win His heavenly prize!

Every WORD of God is a seed that must be protected in your life. Commit yourself to following the WORD, not man. Turn away from those that would deceive you or hinder you in following God's perfect WORD.

Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

Romans 16:17-18

**We must be rooted in the WORD of God so that we are not naive and open unto deception. This is why we must protect God's WORD in our lives at all costs!**

Stewardship vs Ownership

Whatever you are lusting and coveting after has you. You do not have it. This is why biblical prosperity comes from an attitude of stewardship towards money and possessions, not ownership. When you take on the attitude of ownership toward money, it becomes your master and you serve it. The same thing occurs when you covet and lust after something- it owns you, not the other way around.

The Cure to Covetousness: Contentment

The way to overcome covetousness is through contentment, and it is the next heart posture we must develop towards money. Paul wrote,

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:11-13

Contentment is an attitude which Paul learned and developed. It wasn't something that just magically plopped into his character in a day, but it was through developing a relationship with God and growing in knowledge of the WORD that Paul learned to be content.

Contentment comes when we stop allowing our circumstances and our relationships with others to direct our trust in God. This applies to all areas of life, not just finances.

We become content in our walk with God when we stop letting the doctrines and traditions of man, as well as the ways of the world, direct our trust in God.

We become content in our relationships and friendships when we stop allowing their opinions- & our own expectations of man- to take precedence over the WORD and ways of God.

We become content in our finances when we no longer permit the lusts & covetousness of man & the world to direct our money, but we trust it unto God.

We become content in our health when we no longer allow the doctors and the ideas of man to determine the ultimate state of our bodies, but instead trust our bodies unto God and His WORD.

Contentment comes when we start fully trusting in God and stop putting our trust in man.

The definition of contentment is a barrier or a shield for us to ward off covetousness. After Abraham had just faced a handful of financial deficits, the LORD told him, I AM your Shield and Exceeding Great Reward! God told Abraham, and tells us now that HE IS our Shield from covetousness and HE IS our all-surpassing Reward! Our trust in God's care and provision- especially in the face of lack- is our protection from covetousness. Developing contentment in our lives involves exalting the Truth of God above the facts of the world. The more we take in the things of the world- scrolling on social media, listening to music that glorifies money, sex, fame, and coveting, feeding our eyes and ears with the lusts of the flesh and the lusts of the eye- we are exalting the facts of the world above the Truth. In doing so, we open up our hearts to covetousness, idolatry, and greed. But when we exalt the Truth- the WORD of God- in our lives by spending our time & energy on things that glorify Him, He shields us from covetousness and we in turn develop contentment.

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6 — **Now godliness with contentment is great gain.** 1 Timothy 6:6

Good looks, fashion, fame, perfect health, and financial status are never the standard of measurement for spirituality & godliness in our lives. Those things do not produce godliness. However, godliness can produce the fruit of financial prosperity, fame, and divine health and well-being. These things are not bad or sinful in themselves unless they become what one puts their trust in. We must be sure that we have the right root- God and His WORD- for then the fruit all grows from that root. When the LORD becomes your all- your trust, your hope, your strength, your Shield, your Shepherd, your Reward- then you will not fall into covetousness in any areas of life, but will have the attitude of godliness with contentment. And then you will have true gain.

Impulsiveness

Another hindrance to biblical prosperity, impulsiveness is led by the flesh and emotion, not by the Spirit.

For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 8:6

Being led by the Spirit produces life and peace, but being led by the flesh- our carnal desires and our emotions- produces death in our lives. Being led of the Spirit comes with growing in spiritual maturity as you grow in the knowledge of God and the WORD. Most new Christians live carnally because they haven't had time nor been given the knowledge to renew their minds.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:1-2

The only way we can be transformed from living in the flesh to living in the Spirit, is by renewing our minds to the WORD, and presenting our bodies as living sacrifices (no longer living for ourselves and our own desires, but living for Christ.) This takes time, as it all comes from growing a deeper and deeper relationship with Jesus over time. Reading the Bible, listening to sermons, reading books that teach the WORD- all are ways to grow and mature and learn to walk in the Spirit. As you learn to do so, the impulses of your flesh will no longer rule over you because you have offered your body to the LORD and your mind is renewed to the WORD. This brings life and peace!

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. Galatians 5:16-17

The LORD Leads us to Prosper

Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.

Isaiah 48:17

You cannot truly profit in the will of God if you are not walking in the Spirit. Many in the world may look like they are prospering, but just as satan offered Jesus the false blessing of the kingdoms of the world in the desert, he offers many people the counterfeit blessing now. Just because someone has riches, fame, health and wealth, does not mean they are blessed by God. A major key to walking in true biblical prosperity is being led in life by the Spirit of God when you make financial decisions, instead of being led by your emotions & feelings. God plainly tells us that when we follow His Spirit, He will teach us to profit.

Many Christians are not prospering financially because they are still trying to live their own way, and are not allowing the Spirit of God to lead their lives. They align themselves with the wrong people, they make decisions based off of their emotions, and then when things don't work out they blame God!

If Abraham never left his homeland to follow God's leading, he never would've amassed the wealth and the blessing that God gave to him. Abraham had to leave his people, his family, and his location in order to follow the leading of God. Many people call themselves Christians, and yet they are unwilling to separate themselves from ungodly influences and environments to follow God. These people are missing out on God's plans to prosper them because God doesn't force His will on anyone. Only when we are willing to follow the LORD and be led of His Spirit, can we know the right way to go and learn how to prosper.

The Antidote to Impulsiveness: Patience

We must learn to wait on God and follow His leading, not whatever impulse hits our flesh.

He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly.

Proverbs 14:29

Impulsiveness is one of the biggest thieves of the provision of the Father, as it makes decisions based on the comfort and convenience of our flesh instead of depending on the Spirit of God. It preys on Christians who are unable to wait on the LORD. When we humble ourselves to God's ways and God's timing and utilize patience, we overcome impulsiveness. One of God's primary characteristics is His patience towards us.

But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Psalm 86:15

Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion, for the LORD is a just God. Blessed are all who wait for Him.

Isaiah 30:18

Patience is not something that we pray for but it is something that we receive by drawing from the Spirit of God because that is Who He is. Since our spirit is joined with God's Spirit (1 Cor. 6:17), we already have all the patience of God within us. It's just a matter of choosing to walk in the Spirit or walk in the flesh, walk in patience or walk in impulsiveness.

When impulses arise, confess the truth that you have the fruit of the Spirit that is patience and that as a new creature in Christ Jesus you are a patient person. You are not trying to "get" patience by your confession, but you are confessing who you are and what you already have in your spirit with the power of your words. You have the spiritual authority of death and life in your tongue, and when you speak life (the WORD of GOD) you produce the fruits of God and His nature.

Wait on the LORD

Begin to wait on the LORD. Wait for His leading and guidance, wait for His knowledge and wisdom, wait for His counsel and understanding, wait for His direction and might. Jesus waited on the timing of the Father, and He is our perfect example of how to live and prosper in this life according to God's will. He never let man set the precedence in His life, but He always waited on God. In the places He came to, occupied, and left; in the people He surrounded Himself with; in the jobs He completed; in the conversations He had; in the money He spent... Jesus waited on the Father.

When you begin to make decisions with your finances under the direction of God, you will begin to prosper His way. Giving and receiving, sowing and reaping, being blessed to be a blessing... all fall under biblical prosperity, and all come from waiting on the LORD. Trust your money, your decisions, and your timing to Him. Understand that it is God's money, God's will, and God's timing that will bring you to the most prosperous place you could ever be in life.

He is your Father.

He cares for you.

He will lead you to profit.

He will show you the way to go.

Wait on the LORD.