The United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing says it costs about sixty-two dollars to print 1,000 bills of paper money. Each bill, regardless of its face value, costs about 6.2 cents to produce. In that sense a one-dollar bill is as valuable as a one-hundred-dollar bill!

We realize, of course, that a one-dollar bill and a five-hundred-dollar bill are vastly different in the marketplace. Except for the cost of printing there is little similarity. But there is another similarity not recognized by most of the business world. In God’s sight stealing one dollar is just as wrong as stealing five hundred dollars. The exact amount is not as serious as the sin itself. Furthermore, most thieves of large amounts began their stealing with only a dollar or even less.

Behind stealing there is yet another sin we could call the “root of theft.” This is the sin of covetousness or what the Bible calls the “love of money.” To covet (yearn for something that is not ours to have) one dollar is also just as sinful as to covet five hundred. One does not need to be rich to covet. The problem is worldwide. People from the very poorest countries testify to the prevalence of covetousness in their lands. When someone asked a man from the Dominican Republic whether people were as materialistic or covetous there, he replied, “Yes, they are, but in America people just hide it better.”

Covetousness is also rampant in the more prosperous countries, but in different ways. Young people often want “things” they see other people with. Some will even steal to get it. Sometimes people want other things such as fame and popularity and will run down other people or do almost anything else to get it. Many crave another person’s body and commit immorality to get it. No wonder the Bible says, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition” (1 Timothy 6:9).

Covetousness, regardless of the amount coveted, is so dangerous because it gets us into trouble with the law and with other people. More importantly, it gets us into trouble with God. It also takes our eyes off God who supplies our needs. Covetousness also leads to a host of other sins. It leads to family troubles (Proverbs 15:27), immorality (coveting another person), misery, and, in the end, disappointment.

Covetousness leads us away from God and the good things that God has for us. God wants us to find our thrill and joy in Him and not in “things” that will simply pass away or become worthless. Even fame, reputation, and good looks will all fade away and become useless. “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1 Timothy 6:10).

The cost of covetousness is far greater than the value of anything that can be coveted. The loss is for today and for eternity.

Roger Berry