Covetousness and Sexual Immorality
Read Hebrews 13:4, 5; Luke 16:10–18; 1 Corinthians 5:1; Ephesians
5:3–5; and Colossians 3:5. What two evils are related in these pas­
sages?
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Paul warns the readers against sexual immorality and greed because
they are two grave threats to brotherly love. In fact, New Testament
authors and ancient moralists noted a connection between them.
Paul’s call to honor marriage implied the avoidance of anything that
would belittle it. This avoidance included abstaining both from viola-
tion of the marriage oath and from unwarranted divorces (compare with
Matt. 19:9). The exhortation to keep the marriage bed undefiled refers to
avoiding the profanation of marriage through sexual relationships outside
of marriage. The expression “fornicators” refers in the New Testament to
every form of sexual immorality (1 Cor. 5:9–11; 1 Cor. 6:9, 10; Eph. 5:5;
1 Tim. 1:9, 10; Rev. 21:8; Rev. 22:15). In addition, Greco-Roman society
was lax in regard to sexual ethics. A double standard was common: this
allowed men license in their sexual relationships as long as they were
discreet. Paul warns, however, that God will judge adulterers. Believers
should not let social conventions establish their own ethical standards.
“Love of money” was one of the main categories of vices in the
Greco-Roman world. In fact, in another letter. Paul referred to “love of
money” as the source of all evils (1 Tim. 6:10).
The defense against this vice is an attitude that Paul encourages in
several epistles. First, they should “be content” with the things they had
(also 2 Cor. 9:8; Phil. 4:11, 12). Furthermore, Christians should believe
and embrace God’s promise that God would “never leave . . . nor forsake”
them (Heb. 13:5). This promise was given in several places and moments
to His people and is available to us today (Gen. 28:15; Deut. 31:6, 8;
Josh. 1:5; 1 Chron. 28:20). Believers, then, are invited to respond to
God’s promise with the words of Psalm 118:6: “The Lord is on my side;
I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (ESV). This reference to Psalm
118 is appropriate because the psalmist expressed there his confidence in
God, despite the suffering inflicted upon him by unbelievers.
What are the ways that contemporary society undermines sexual
purity and, at the same time, feeds the human love of money? In
what practical ways can we strengthen our defenses against these
two dangerous vices?