Coveting Invites the Demonic Into Your Desires

Matthew 27:18 – For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.

James 3:13-18 – Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Have you ever stopped to ponder where this spirit of discontent and coveting began? According to the Bible, the first person to covet and get jealous of someone else was Satan.

In heaven Satan got jealous of God’s place in authority and coveted the glory that belonged to God alone. Unwilling to remain content with who God made him to be, the role God made him to play, and the position God intended for him to occupy, Satan got covetous.

The angels who aligned with him became demons. The difference between an angel and a demon is that an angel is content, while a demon covets. We see this battle in heaven continue on the earth. As they were seeking to have Jesus crucified, we learn the motive of the religious leaders leading the mob: “It was out of envy that they had delivered him up.”

Once Satan and his covetous demons were cast down to the earth, they brought coveting with them. To covet is to invite the demonic into your desires. Satan has always tried to sow discontent—from the war in heaven, to Eve in the garden, to Jesus in the desert, and to this day in every culture. The entire world is caught in the grip of demonic desires.

If you covet, you are pulling that spirit up from hell, and it is “earthly, unspiritual, demonic.” If you pull contentment down into your life instead, you are welcoming the Spirit down from heaven with “wisdom that comes down from above.”

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