The Art of Christian Contentment – Hebrews 13:5-6

A vice this is which, by its effects, manifests itself always to be contrary to the light of nature, as debasing the minds of men, making them useless, and exposing them to all manner of vile practices. Hence it was always stigmatized by sober heathens, as one of the vilest affections of the minds of men. And there is nothing which the Scripture doth more severely condemn, nor denounce more inevitable punishment unto. Two places in our apostle may suffice to confirm it. In the one he tells us, that “covetousness is idolatry,” Col. 3:5;—that is, such an abominable sin, as there is no name fit to be given unto it but that which intimates a rejection of God himself; or, it may be, respect is also had unto the minds of covetous persons, who even adore their money, and put their trust in it in the stead of God. “The rich man’s riches are his strong tower.” The other is 1 Tim. 6:9, 10, where he affirms that it gives men present perplexing anxieties of mind, and plungeth them into eternal perdition. – John Owen