Archive for March, 2022

And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Luke 3:10-11

“This is your fruit, O abominable covetousness! Spurred on by you, the child becomes his parent’s enemy. You fill the earth with robbers and murderers, and the sea with pirates, cities with tumult, courts with false witnesses, false accusers, betrayers, advocates, and judges who incline whichever way you draw them. Covetousness is the mother of inequality, unmerciful, hating mankind, most cruel.

On account of it, the life of men is full of inequality. Some being surfeited, loathe the abundance of their possessions, as one disgorges food which has been too greedily swallowed; while others are in peril through extreme hunger and want. Some lie down under gilded roofs and live in houses that are like small cities, adorned with sumptuous baths and chambers, and most extensive porches, and every kind of extravagance, while others have not the shelter of two boards.

When they cannot live in open air, they either take refuge beside the furnaces of the baths, or, finding the attendants of the baths inhospitable, they dig into the dung like swine, and so contrive to get for themselves the needful warmth. Such is the marked disparity in the conditions of life, between men created equal in worth, and the cause of this disordered and anomalous state of things is nothing else than covetousness.

One is put to shame by his naked limbs; the other, beside having almost countless garments, dresses his walls with purple hangings. The poor man has not on his wooden table any bread to break; while the luxurious man sitting at his broad silver stable is delighted with its glitter. How much more just it would be that the poor man should feast to the full on the other’s luxury, and that the support of the needy should be the decoration of the rich man’s table!

One man, aged and unable to walk, or lame by reason of some outrageous mutilation, does not possess the ass that he needs to carry him about, while another does not know his droves of horses for their very multitude. One lacks oil to light his lamps, while another has a fortune simply in lamp-stands.

One has only the ground for his bed, while he who is unreasonably rich, is dazzled by the splendor of his couch, with its silver balls and chains instead of cords. These are the results of insatiable covetousness. For had it not introduced inequality into life, these anomalous heights and depths would not have existed, nor would manifold misfortunes have made our life joyless and tearful.”

Asterius of Amasea (350-410) in his sermon, “Against Coveteousness.”

One of the dastardly fruits of coveteousness is inequality. Imagine if instead we who aim at growing in generosity worked toward equality as noted in today’s text from the Gospels or from these words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 8:13-15

“Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”

God’s design and desire is that everyone has enough. The lesson of the manna teaches us that God is the faithful Provider. We also learn that those who have more than enough share with those who gather less than enough.

As I reflect on the powerful words of Asterius, it seems that at the core, inequality finds its root in selfishness and cherishes possessions and comfort over people and caring. The biblical texts call us to share sacrificially and to place our trust in God and not ourselves for our future care.

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 1 Timothy 4:1

“For how are those drawn into the service of demons who were once of the company of Christians and partakers in the mysteries? Is it not by the desire of acquiring great wealth, and of becoming masters of what belongs to others? Upon receiving from godless and impious men promises either of official preferment or of wealth from royal treasuries, they quickly put off their religion as a garment.

And such examples occurring in previous times, memory and tradition have preserved and handed down to us. And there are also instances which belong to our own generation, and are within the range of our experience. For when that emperor [Julian the apostate], who all at once cast aside the character of a Christian, and disclosed the farce he had long been acting, himself shamelessly sacrificed to demons, and offered many gifts to those who were willing to do the same, how many left the church and ran to pagan altars!

How many, taking the bait of emolument, swallowed with it the hook of apostasy, and branded with disgrace are wandering about among the towns, objects of hatred; pointed at as betrayers of Christ, for the sake of a little money; stricken from the list of Christians, as was Judas from the roll of the apostles; known by the name of apostate, as horses are known by the marks branded upon them; who simply allowed themselves to be drawn into the basest of all sins, and promptly followed the teacher of unhallowed and abominable impiety!”

Asterius of Amasea (350-410) in his sermon, “Against Coveteousness.” I am nearly done with this deeply serious and powerful sermon. But, it seems fitting for the challenging times in which we are living.

Throughout church history, people have “put off their religion as a garment.” It’s still happening today. The closer we get to the great Day of the Lord, the more rapidly people will abandon the faith. The deceptive doctrine that lures people away is associated with the love of money in Paul’s first letter to Timothy.

Put simply, God blesses obedient servants, then demons intervene. They tempt stewards to think the money they possess is theirs to spend as they please. They spout lies that stewards need money to sustain us, when God is the One who supplies all we need for enjoyment and sharing. This is just a sampling of the deception.

How does this relate to our generosity? The generous person must abandon “the desire to acquire.” During Lent we set aside our desires to partake of the only One who satisfies. If we don’t abandon “the desire to acquire” it will not only hinder our generosity, it can lead to apostasy.

I think that those who “put off their religion as a garment” (like Judas or Julian) don’t intentionally choose that path, but rather they make small bad choices that lead them way off course over time. Ultimately, they regret it. To avoid apostasy, set aside “the desire to acquire” by giving what you have to God.

Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:1-2

“The fine linen perished, the kingdom departed to another, the luxuries passed away; but the sin of them went with him, as a person’s shadow follows him when walking. And for this reason, after his extravagant banquets, and his luxurious table, he begs for a drop of water that falls from a leper’s finger, and calls to alleviate his punishment the beggar who, perhaps, when he lay at the gate, did not even have hands; for surely if he had had them he would have driven away the dogs that licked his sores. And he desires to join Lazarus, seeing him on the other side, and is hindered by the ditch or gulf between them, which was no hole that had been digged nor artificial ditch like that which one can see between hostile camps in war. But the Scripture, I think, means that his sins were the obstacle that cut off the approach of the condemned to the righteous. And the prophet Isaiah sets his seal to my interpretation, when he sternly rebukes a foolish people and says, “Is the Lord’s hand shortened, that it cannot save? Or is his ear heavy, that it cannot hear? But your sins stand between you and God.”

Asterius of Amasea (350-410) in his sermon, “Against Coveteousness.”

Why sit in such strong preaching and share excerpts as posts? The lack of generosity rooted in coveteousness is not a financial issue but a spiritual issue. And during Lent, the only right response is confession and repentenance because God first and foremost wants our hearts.

The rich man should have aided Lazarus whilst he was living. Now is the time for us to use what we have to show love of God and love of neighbor. Soon the time will come when the luxuries will perish. Many will regret squandering God’s resources at that time who have not put them to work today.

Father, forgive us for our many sins related to coveteousness. We have cared more about comfort than Christ, more about luxuries than the lives of those in need around us. Help us chart a new course by your Holy Spirit, lest our desires destroy us. Hear our prayer in your mercy in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” Luke 16:25-31

“Pass over in thought to the time to come, when you shall be no more; when a small plot of earth shall hold your body, insensate, returned to dust, and a little tablet, a few spans in size, shall cover all that remains. Where then will be your wealth and your gathered treasures? Who will be the heir of what you leave behind? For it is by no means certain that it will be he whom you suppose. If you leave children, perhaps they will be beaten, and driven weeping from their ancestral home by some covetous man like you.

But if, being childless, you mean to transmit the inheritance to one of your friends, do not regard your will as an immutable law, a thing strong and incapable of being set aside. It will require but little exertion to make the writing invalid. Do you not see those who are constantly contesting wills in the courts, how by all kinds of attacks they wrest them by putting forward as advocates skilful lawyers, invoking the aid of eloquent orators, suborning witnesses, corrupting judges?

So from what you see while you are alive, learn what will happen after you are dead. If you have gotten your wealth justly, use it, as did the blessed Job, for needful purposes; if unjustly, restore it to those who have been defrauded of it, as you would a thing captured in war, giving back either just what you took, or that with something added, as did Zacchaeus. If you have no wealth, do not get any by wickedness.

For as you go the inevitable way, your sin, a bitter portion, will follow you, while the enjoyment of your ill-gotten gains will be left behind for whom you know not. And then you will admire David because he says, “He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.” And observe also the rich man contrasted with Lazarus, of whom we have just read in the Gospels, a narrative which is no fable composed to inspire terror, but a true picture transmitted to us of what is to be.”

Asterius of Amasea (350-410) in his sermon, “Against Coveteousness.”

Luke’s Gospel gives us a true picture in a world filled with false messages. The time to live out your faith through generous giving to the poor is now. Jesus also cryptically alludes to His own death and resurrection and the disbelief of many that accompanies it.

The time to live out what you believe is whilst you are living, for it is not what you say but what you do shows what you really believe and where you place your trust. If these words from Asterius sound striking, it is because he aims to get your attention and mine.

He would add: do your giving while you are living, then you will be knowing where it is going! This leads me to celebrate the recent formation of the GTP Trust Fund which accepts complex asset and major gifts like estates. If you want to know more reply to this email.

People who own all or portions of buildings and businesses need help to give those assets to God. That’s why at GTP, we partnered with MB Foundation to draw on their expertise. Give one or more assets today to lift up the poor not with a handout but a hand up. Don’t wait until it’s too late!

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7

“To him, engaged in this distressful toil, the poor man presents himself, asking for some of the endangered grain, but he does not give it; or, if he gives it, he bestows it parsimoniously, and half-heartedly, parting with it with extreme reluctance. Therefore, I beseech you, if you are such a man, do not undergo these infinite hardships. For the covetous man who lives in luxury is deserving of pity, since he bounds his existence with the belly’s enjoyment and other pleasures, regarding this as the goal of humanity.

But in the case of the mean and penurious, his wretchedness has no limit, since he receives the goods of many, and does not give even to himself, and so has nothing for his pains. For who does not know that nothing, except the virtues, exists for its own sake, but we do one thing in order that we may accomplish another? No sailor traverses the sea simply for the sake of sailing, and no farmer passes his life in toil simply for the sake of farming; but it is manifest that both persevere amid their hardships that they may secure, the one the increase of the earth, and the other the wealth of maritime trade.

But tell me now, O covetous man, what is your goal? To accumulate? And what kind of an object in life is this, to heap up and gloat over unused substance? The very sight, he replies, delights me. Then attack your disorder in another way. For you can allay this longing with what belongs to others. If the glitter of silver delights you, sit beside the silversmiths and gaze steadfastly upon the strong and glittering sheen; or haunt the markets, and enjoy the richly wrought vessels, platters: and pitchers.

For the sight of them is free and unhindered. Watch the moneychangers also who are continually reckoning and counting the coin at their tables; but, better yet, yield to good advice and give up this inclination. For amendment is easy, since covetousness is not a necessity of nature, but a direction of choice, and to change it is not difficult for those who consider their own advantage.”

Asterius of Amasea (350-410) in his sermon, “Against Coveteousness.”

I’ve been on the shores of Lake Erie this weekend so the sailor word picture fits. My late uncle and his wife were greenhouse farmers so working the land for the increase from the earth also seems relevant, and at the end of the day, what Asterius brings into view is the choice we all must make.

Choose covetousness, which is a pitiful existence that results in reluctant giving at best, or cheerful giving, which God loves and which shows God’s love. It’s one or the other. What I can’t get over is how vivid Asterius writes and his words are more than 1,600 years old. Had he attended yesterday’s memorial service, he would have said this: “yield to good advice.”

He’d say get out there and do business: sail, farm, or toil diligently at any productive occupation. But then he’d add that we should make the choice not to accumulate but to distribute. Not to aim at luxury but at serving the poor. Death gives us perspective on how to live life. Thanks God (and Asterius) for the lesson as I return to Denver today.

If you lend money to one of my people among you who is needy, do not treat it like a business deal; charge no interest. Exodus 22:25

“Now let some one who has been seized with this disease of covetousness tell me what is the object of this toil for gain? For I know that many with whom I am acquainted, love money more when they are sick than when they are in health. If the doctor prescribes for their recovery softie inexpensive medicine, such as parsley or thyme or anise, which can be procured without expense, they readily heed his directions.

But if he mentions some drug, the ingredients of which are rich and complex, and they are sent to the apothecary or the perfumer to purchase it, they give up their lives rather than open their purses. For being earthly-minded they think the possession of earthly things to be life itself. These men are profoundly depressed by general prosperity and delighted by general distress.

They pray that intolerable burdens of taxation may be imposed by public proclamation that they may increase their money by usury. They want to see their neighbors throttled by money-lenders, in order that they may secure for themselves their farms, their chattels, or live stock, when through necessity they are thrown on the market at a low price.

And they keep continually looking up at the sky, like those philosophers whose work it is to investigate astronomical phenomena, not studying the movement of a star, nor trying to observe what house is occupied by one of the planets, but curious about the state of the atmosphere, whether the signs that present themselves promise a downfall of rain or a drought. And if they see any portent of any calamity threatening to fall on the community at large, they rejoice over it.

They gather everything into their warehouses, which they closely seal and secure with double bars, while they continually measure and reckon up their stores. And while the covetous man cherishes such expectation and in his mind’s eye sees himself rich, if a thick cloud arise, he is frightened as though danger were imminent. If showers besprinkle the earth he begins to weep.”

Asterius of Amasea (350-410) in his sermon, “Against Coveteousness.”

There’s a lot in this sermon. As I head to a memorial service with family today in Cleveland, I ponder what is important in light of eternity after visiting the graveside of my aunt and uncle today (pictured above).

We must focus on hard work to earn an income rather than practice usury (gain at the expense of others). We must care about the Master’s desires more than markets. We must store up resources in heavenly warehouses rather than on earth.

These are key lessons to grasp life. At the end of the day, I am learning that the one who cares about preserving riches, comfort, and earthly holdings, without realizing it, has become a captive to coveteousness. It’s a dark and deceptive master!

Those who value possessions over people will come to realize that “gathering everything” will only leave them empty. God help us value people over possessions so we end up generous givers for your glory. Amen.

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Matthew 6:3

“The covetous man is odious to the members of his household, severe to his domestics, useless to his friends, ungracious to strangers, troublesome to his neighbors, a sorry companion to his wife, a penurious rearer of children, a bad master of himself; at night full of anxiety, by day absorbed, talking to himself like one demented; abounding in wealth, yet groaning as though in need; not enjoying what he has, and yet seeking what he has not; not using his own, yet casting avaricious eyes upon the property of others.

Such a man has a great flock of sheep that fills the folds in which it is penned, and covers the plains on which it pastures. And if a single sheep belonging to his neighbor appear in good flesh, taking no notice of his own vast flock he lays greedy siege to that one sheep of his neighbor. The same is true in the case of his kine and of his horses; nor is it otherwise in the matter of his land. The house is crowded with everything, but nothing is made any use of.

For it is impossible for a greedy person to have any enjoyment, but his house is almost like a grave. For see, graves are often full of silver and gold, but no one uses the riches. The body is not sustained by them; the soul finds no satisfaction in them; for alms are not scattered by the right hand of the dead.”

Asterius of Amasea (350-410) in his sermon, “Against Coveteousness.”

Coveteousness destroys people. It causes us not to play our God-designed role in our homes and communities. When afflicted with it, we never have enough, and we constantly desire the possessions, long to experience the pleasures, and seek the power that others have.

And coveteousness also hinders generosity. Note the cryptic statement that ends today’s post from this powerful sermon from antiquity: “Alms are not scattered by the right hand of the dead.”

I am attending a memorial service tomorrow for my aunt and uncle. It has me thinking about what we must do during our lives. And almsgiving is on my mind as we are in the heart of the Lenten season, so this post is rightly timed.

In biblical times, the reason Jesus would say not to let your left hand know what your right hand is doing related to giving is because the left hand was associated with coveteousness and the right hand with generosity.

So Asterius is saying in plain terms that coveteousness will destroy you and me and our generosity. God, show us the areas of my life riddled with coveteousness and root it out in your mercy, we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

And [Jesus] said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Luke 12:15

“But now, leaving ancient history, let us interrogate the experience of daily life, and learn what sort of a creature it recognizes in covetousness, and how hard it is to get rid of; for whomsoever it seizes, ever waxing but never waning, it grows old with its victims and abides with them to the end.

The lustful and the lover of his body, even if he be for a long time mad in his desires, when he becomes old, or sees the object of his affection, his body, now aged and the bloom departed, finds that there is a limit to his disorder. The glutton himself withdraws from his indulgence when surfeited, or when his digestive organs become weak, and their intense desire for food is gone. The ambitious man after having attained great notoriety ceases to desire to show himself off.

But the disease of covetousness is an evil hard to rid one’s self of. And just as this ivy, the plant flourishing and ever green, creeping up the trees that grow near, coils tight about the trunks wherever it touches and even if they suffer harm or wither, it does not die, unless some one with an axe severs its serpent-like coils so it is not easy to free the soul from covetousness, whether the body be youthful or beginning to grow old, unless some sober consideration enter in and like a knife cut off the disease.”

Asterius of Amasea (350-410) in his sermon, “Against Coveteousness.”

Coveteousness rears it’s ugly head in many ways. This post gives me much to ponder as I fly to Cleveland, Ohio, today to see family and honor the memory of my aunt and uncle who passed away back in December 2021.

Similar to the lustful, the gluttonous, and the ambitious persons in this sermon by Asterius, we say at GTP in Journey of Empowerment that people pursue possessions (lustful), pleasures (glutton), and power (ambitious).

So whilst times have changed, the traps remain the same that the evil one uses to enslave us and limit our generosity. We must identify and avoid them. But how?

Whatever possessions we are drawn to reveals our idols. Whatever pleasures we pursue reveal our heart’s desires. And whatever power we seek reveals our fears. We must do away with idols, make Christ our sole desire, and not allow fears to guide our decision making.

It’s getting on Spring in USA. Might it be time to weed out the ivy of coveteousness in any of these three areas? Sit with Jesus, follow the leading of the Spirit, trust the Father to care for you.

Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. “Is everything all right?” he asked. “Everything is all right,” Gehazi answered. “My master sent me to say, ‘Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.’” “By all means, take two talents,” said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left. When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” “Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” Gehazi answered. But Elisha said to him, “Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.” Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it had become as white as snow. 2 Kings 5:20-27

“The first man was beguiled into the love of pleasure, and by eating the forbidden fruit lost immortality, as Esau afterward lost his birthright for a dish of pottage. And love of more introduced into our life these languages of ours, the many tongues of men. For men who through plenty had become wanton, thinking that the heavens were accessible to them, foolishly made a preposterous tower for mounting up to the sky, and so caused mankind, which had been of one language, to speak with different tongues; in seeking more than they had, they themselves were not only confounded but left to mankind the weariness of hearing unintelligible tongues, and of searching for their interpretation.

And what of Pharaoh? How came he to fall into difficulties and to be afflicted with plagues? Was it not through covetousness, through the desire of being lord over a strange people which by no means belonged to his kingdom? And, since he did not let those go who belonged to another, he lost those who were his own; some in the smiting of the first-born and others in the pursuit through the sea. For I do not mention the rivers flowing blood, and the infinite generation of frogs, and the destruction wrought by locusts, and the eruption of boils, and the death of four-footed beasts, and all the evil to which Egypt was condemned on account of her ruler’s covetousness.

Again, somewhere else I have learned the outcome of this sin, how leprosy in a moment spread over the body of the covetous. Recall with me, if you are historically inclined, and fond of hearing of Elisha’s deeds, how Naaman the Syrian bathed in the Jordan, and was healed of his leprosy, and how his malady passed over upon Gehazi, the prophet’s servant, a covetous and foolish young man, who received raiment and silver for his master’s free act of healing. How did Absalom, that fiery and impetuous young man, son of an indulgent father, become a parricide?

Was it not by prematurely seeking the inheritance of the kingdom and leaping like a robber upon what was another’s? And Judas, also, what drove him out from the company of the apostles, and made him a traitor instead of an apostle? Was it not the treasury at first dishonestly administered, and then the getting of the shameful price? Why does the Acts of the Apostles tell in tragic vein of Ananias and Sapphira? Is it not because they were thieves of what was their own, and violators of their own offerings? The day will soon fail me if I try to enumerate the servants of covetousness.”

Asterius of Amasea (350-410) in his sermon, “Against Coveteousness.”

With thanksgiving to God, I report that I have arrived safely home. Again, if you want a copy of our Palmful of Maize trip report, please reply to this email to request it. Now I want to continue citing from this powerful sermon.

Asterius brilliantly sketches a few of the servants of coveteousness in the biblical record. Notice each one played a part in the ongoing story and was wiped out by coveteousness. If it can happen to Gehazi, I can happen to any of us.

The key here is that those close to God’s people like Judas, Esau, Ananias and Sapphira, can miss out on all God desires for us, when we become consumed by pursuing our own desires. So, what is the lesson for those of us today?

As God blesses us, we must attach to the gifts of God, but to God who is the Giver of all good gifts. To avoid becoming servants of coveteousnss, let us practices disciplines to know God and steward resources in keeping with His will.

Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Psalm 119:36

“There are many kindred Scriptures full of profit for us, into all of which I wished to go that I might show you the abundance of the spiritual feast. But I must fulfil the promise that I made yesterday. For after we had brought many accusations against covetousness, but had scarcely laid bare its vanity, we deferred until today the proof of the charges. Listen, therefore, and show yourselves wise judges of the truth; for your decision affects your own salvation, not that of others; and each of you casts his vote of condemnation against his own soul, as though driving it out of house or town.

Covetousness, then, is not simply being mad for money, and other possessions, wishing to add to what you have that to which you have no right, but, to speak more broadly, it is the desire to have in every transaction more than is due or belongs to you. And you know that the devil was the first to have this fault; for he was an archangel, and appointed to the most honorable life and station; but the arrogant creature conceived of absolute rule, and rebellion against God, and was thereafter cast down from heaven, and, falling into this atmosphere of earth, he became your malicious neighbor. So he did not attain the divinity to which he aspired, and he lost the rank which he had enjoyed of being archangel; an unfaithful servant, changed by gradually increasing audacity into a robber.”

Asterius of Amasea (350-410) in his sermon, “Against Coveteousness.”

As our team members travel back to Australia, Egypt, and USA, I will continue citing from this sermon. In short, Asterius reveals that coveteousness is desiring more than is due or more than belongs to you. It’s the sin of the devil and many after him. But what is our portion?

Throughout Scripture the provision of manna or daily bread comes into view. Perhaps the best way to address this issue is not to point fingers but to hold up a mirror. We must each ask ourselves whether or not we desire more that what is due and what that says about our hearts. Does coveteousness have a grip on you?

As I ponder this on my way home, along with all I have experienced in Malawi, it strikes me that at the core, selfishness is trusting myself to care for my needs rather than God. I can be controlled by a scarcity mindset and become a robber like the devil, or choose obedience and generosity which reply on God’s love and abundance.

We aim to break the power of coveteousness in Malawi through Palmful of Maize, inspired by Handful of Rice in India. If you want to read our trip report, please reply to this email. As this was a massive effort in which GTP invested much of our available resources, please click here make a gift to GTP today to support our ongoing work.