Hmmm....I only know what God has shown me of this scripture and others...I never once thought of covetousness being the issue here...but I will meditate on what you have said...
How is covetousness a part of this?
Other then to covet those things which are good and of God.
Forgive me if i have misunderstood what you were saying, im not sure. As far as covetousness goes, it means wanting things, or being materialistic, it means conforming to the world instead of God's will because the world is materialistic by nature. (Luk 12:30) Jesus said to beware of covetousness and Paul said to let our conversation be without covetousness and to be content with the things that we have, i think that to beware of covetousness means that we should keep covetous thoughts in check by not allowing them to overtake us, this is important in today's world because there are many advertisements everywhere that are designed to make us want whatever product the seller is marketing to us. If we abstain from materialistic desires then we are obeying Christ, but if we allow our covetous materialistic thoughts to grow into desires for material possessions to the point that we are not happy without those possessions then we are in danger of being idolaters by putting the desires of the flesh above Gods will and Himself.
This is not to say we can't want things, its just to say that we cannot want them more than God, only God can make us happy, worldly possessions never make us truly happy, have you ever thought that if you just had a certain material possession, or money that you would be happy? But then you get that thing or that money and you are still not happy? That's because we are designed to worship God and we cannot worship God is we worship materialism at the same time. We cannot serve 2 masters, we will hate one and love the other, its better to hate covetousness than God, its something we should pray for if we are struggling with it, we can be honest with God because that's what he wants, we can confess our covetousness which is idolatry to God and ask Him to help us, that is what God wants us to do.
Mat_6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Luk 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Luk 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
Luk 12:22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
Luk 12:23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
Luk 12:29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
Luk 12:30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
Luk 12:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Luk 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
Luk 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Luk 12:35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
Eph_5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints
Col_3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness,
which is idolatry:
Heb_13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
