Covetousness

(Henry Ward Beecher, "Lectures to Young Men on Various Important Subjects" 1849)

"Covetousness, which is idolatry!" Colossians 3:5

Covetousness breeds misery! The sight . . .
  of houses better than our own,
  of dress beyond our means,
  of jewels costlier than we can wear,
  of stately equipage, and rare curiosities beyond our reach —
these hatch the viper-brood of covetous thoughts — vexing the poor who would be rich, and tormenting the rich who would be richer!

I do not wonder that God abhors him. He inspects his heart as He would a cave full of foul birds, or a nest of rattling reptiles — and loathes the sight of its crawling tenants!
 
"You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or covetous person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a covetous person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world." Ephesians 5:5