Luke 12:30
King James Version
30 For all these things
do the nations of the world seek after:
and your Father knoweth
that ye have need of these things.
What is covetousness?
What are its consequences?
EIGHT points came to mind:
FIRST, let Dictionary define "covetousness":
"eager or excessive desire,
especially for wealth or possessions"
SECOND, I will share with you my born again thoughts.
From a glaring example in the recent news.
Most of us know about the cargo ship that lost power.
Crashing into the substructure of a bridge.
My initial thoughts, upon seeing the accident?
What a HUMONGOUS container ship!
Would its top have fit under the bridge?
So, I watched other videos by engineers.
One said ships were not as loaded in times past.
I took one look at that cargo ship, and imagined it to be a city.
Look, I come from the Philippines.
We are notorious for our "balikbayan" boxes.
We love sending stuff back home.
Couriers have made big money from us.
I've laughed at myself.
I've laughed at my co-Filipinos.
Trying to navigate ramps, or sending those boxes.
Those cargo ships contain our boxes, too.
We are literally "part and parcel" of ship cargo.
And I see that cargo ship, maxxed.
Like a floating city.
How much of our boxes are in those containers?
Not to mention other countries who send their goods.
Raw materials, industrial parts, dry goods.
Toxic materials, even contraband.
One man's "garbage", another man's "treasure"?
We also know some containers contain people.
Would they have survived the crash, and delay?
THIRD, as with accidents, the truth will come out.
Whether it be mechanical error, human error, bad weather, strong waves, or acts of terrorism.
Or a combination of all that.
Or maybe none of those.
What do we know, really?
At first, upon hearing the ship "lost" power, a thought occurred.
Is it an EMP attack?
It can cause electronics to shut dead.
Though reports also said that ship had problems before.
If that be so, why is it sailing?
And with a LOAD such as THAT!
Of course, people will blame each other.
Can you imagine the loss of income, jobs, delays in delivery, insurance costs, suing, and counter-suing?
And all the investigations that would follow.
Everyone protecting their own interests, and all.
As I would always remind myself -- only GOD knows our hearts.
Only He knows our intentions.
We can lie to each other.
But we can't lie to GOD.
I once saw a documentary on how they load container ships.
I marvel at such feat.
It's all computerized.
It would be interesting to work in a dockyard.
A container yard, whatever you call it.
Wikipedia says the largest container ship can carry UP to 24,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units).
I marvel at man's mind.
At his creativity, and ingenuity.
But I cringe at his greed.
FOURTH, do we really need all the things we claim we need?
New models for cars, gadgets, homes, and industries?
New materials for fashion?
New ingredients for exotic meals?
I look to my old gadgets, pleased at its usefulness.
"Coz you don't have the money," people might say.
I sure don't, for upgrades.
But why upgrade when you don't need to?
To keep up with the Joneses?
For social media posts?
To be accepted?
To be hip?
And all because I saw that cargo ship.
Filled to the top.
Crashing against that substructure.
Taking with it several lives of workers.
Who were merely fixing potholes on the bridge.
Not realizing that would be their last day.
Another body was found today.
There is also great danger to the salvage crews.
If it takes great engineering minds to design, and maintain such industries, now, we need even greater engineering minds to fix all that's broken.
If it takes great financial minds to create such industries, now, we need even greater financial minds to compute what's left, and to settle for suits.
It's a challenge to everyone.
I actually am not surprised that bridge fell.
We have brilliant engineers, for sure.
But can ANY structure take the weight of an oncoming ship that SIZE, and with that WEIGHT?
It seems to have taken a momentum, all its own.
I don't have to be a math or physics whiz, to know the force the bridge took.
They said that bridge takes 10,000 motor vehicles each day.
But in one hit, from a ship below, it came crashing down.
Fixing the bridge has become a chore.
The cargo ship remains underneath it.
Loss of income is like $194-M daily.
Business are getting nervous.
A cruise ship is stuck at harbor.
Same with many other cargo ships.
Other ships can't come in.
They're thinking of creating an alternate route.
But it's too shallow, only 11 feet deep.
Business are thinking of suing.
What's to be left of the company to be sued?
To further complicate matters, the ship has many other owners.
Leased, or passed on, who takes the responsibility?
Who's to answer for all the damage?
My heart goes out to all who are suffering.
There will be loss of jobs.
Maybe, a folding up of companies.
FIFTH, as born again, all I care is that we love GOD.
That we care about others.
That we believe in JESUS.
That we obey the LORD's commands.
That we are ready, anytime GOD says, "It's time for my Son to bring home Our faithful."
If you're still waiting for your raw goods, war goods, and all other goods to come from any ship, maybe you'll miss the MOST important ship.
GOD's ship has come in.
He sent His prophets.
He sent His last Emissary.
That Emissary has sent His apostles.
Those apostles have shared the gospel.
Are you aware of it yet?
That the ONLY thing that will remain is GOD's WORD?
We can't live off materialism.
Job knew it.
Job 1:21
King James Version
21 And said,
Naked came I out of my mother's womb,
and naked shall I return thither:
the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away;
blessed be the name of the Lord.
SIXTH, covetousness is idolatry, just so you know.
Colossians 3:5
King James Version
5 Mortify therefore your members
which are upon the earth;
fornication, uncleanness,
inordinate affection, evil concupiscence,
and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Without covetousness, there will be no "climate change".
Without covetousness, there will be no excess garbage.
Without covetousness. people will be content.
Without covetousness, people can focus on GOD.
SEVENTH, GOD warned against covetousness:
King James Version
17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house,
thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife,
nor his manservant, nor his maidservant,
nor his ox, nor his ass,
nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
EIGHT, JESUS warned against covetousness:
Luke 12:15
King James Version
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.
Luke 12:23-24
King James Version
23 The life is more than meat,
and the body is more than raiment.
24 Consider the ravens:
for they neither sow nor reap;
which neither have storehouse nor barn;
and God feedeth them:
how much more are ye better
than the fowls?
Luke 12:25-26
King James Version
25 And which of you with taking thought
can add to his stature one cubit?
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least,
why take ye thought for the rest?
Luke 12:27
King James Version
27 Consider the lilies how they grow:
they toil not, they spin not;
and yet I say unto you,
that Solomon in all his glory
was not arrayed like one of these.
Luke 12:28
King James Version
28 If then God so clothe the grass,
which is to day in the field,
and to morrow is cast into the oven;
how much more will he clothe you,
O ye of little faith?
Luke 12:29-31
King James Version
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat,
or what ye shall drink,
neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30 For all these things do
the nations of the world seek after:
and your Father knoweth
that ye have need of these things.
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God;
and all these things shall be added unto you.
Was that ship representative of our "covetousness"?
Has that cargo ship, the incident, and the resulting loss, chaos, and headaches, representative of what GOD wants us to look into?
Is there a "humbling" going on?
We must KEEP our eyes on the "prize" --
Because we LOVE GOD, above all.
And not the temporary things of this world.
Which give but temporary satisfaction.
And TONS of headache.
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