“From the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness.” — Jeremiah 6:13
The nature of covetousness is the restlessness of never having enough to satisfy. As the proud and covetous man looks always to his own way and for his own gain, meaningful contentment will ever elude him.
“They are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.” — Isaiah 56:11
Weather rich or poor, when life is focused first on the material, there will never be enough to satisfy, but rich or poor, when spiritual welfare is the first priority and it rules the material, then even when giving the last mite, there will be inner peace and satisfaction.
A favorite country song of mine speaks to this idea of “Wantin’ and Havin’ It All”
Rich man grew old, owned a mansion on top of the hill
Now he's sitting at the table with his lawyer
Goin' over his will 'cause he's ill
The kids don't call, they're waitin' for the man to die
He's gonna leave 'em all a little somethin'
But they're gonna be real surprised
There's a poor man livin' on a budget at the bottom of that hill
With a wife and two kids and a worried mind
About how he's gonna pay the bills
Well, only the rich man knows, see
That's where a lot of his money goes
To the man that brought wood in the winter
To take a little weight off his shoulders
There's this thing called wantin' and havin' it all
If you're gonna get there, you're gonna have to walk
But first, you'll have to crawl
And you know you've gotta do it step by step
Miss one and you'll fall into this well
Called wantin' and havin' it all
Poor man has everything that the rich man don't
He's got love in his life and his heart
He's got a house he calls home
The rich man owns everything from miles around
But what he needs can't be bought, it has to be found
His rich kids think that they're better, 'cause they're better off
That's how they grew up thinkin' and now
He thinks it's all his fault
So while there's still time, the daddy that they nickel and dime
Is gonna make 'em learn to take a turn
And stand in line
There's this thing called wantin' and havin' it all
If you're gonna get there you're gonna have to walk
But first you'll have to crawl
And you know you've gotta do it step by step
Miss one and you'll fall into this well
Called wantin' and havin' it all
See life's full of changes
And wantin' right now what you only see in your dreams
I know you don't like it and think
It's the strangest thing you've ever seen
Well, there ain't nothin' you can do about it
There's this thing called wantin' and havin' it all
If you're gonna get there, you're gonna have to walk
But first you'll have to crawl
And you know you've gotta do it step by step
Miss one and you'll fall into this well
Called wantin' and havin' it all
“Wo unto you rich men, that will not give your substance to the poor, for your riches will canker your souls; and this shall be your lamentation in the day of… judgment: The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and my soul is not saved!
“Wo unto you poor men, whose hearts are not broken, whose spirits are not contrite, and whose bellies are not satisfied, and whose hands are not stayed from laying hold upon other men’s goods, whose eyes are full of greediness, and who will not labor with your own hands!
“But blessed are [they] whose hearts are broken, and whose spirits are contrite, for they shall see the kingdom of God coming in power and great glory unto their deliverance; for the fatness of the earth shall be theirs.” — Doctrine & Covenants 56:16-18
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