Covetousness

A couple who worked in NYC and their 18-year-old daughter were found dead in their Pound Ridge home on Friday morning. The NY State Police said that, based on a preliminary investigation, "Steven Dym, 56, took the life of his 50-year-old wife Loretta Dym, their daughter, Caroline Dym, age 18, before taking his own life." Steven Dym led a real estate management firm, Gabriel Management, based in Queens, while Loretta Dym was an executive with Club Quarters, which finds full service accommodations for business travelers. Their daughter Caroline was a student at Sacred Heart Greenwich, where she was a "standout" on the golf team. A son, William Dym, 20, is a sophomore at University of Southern California; he was reportedly traveling back to New York after learning about the deaths. Neighbors told WABZ 7 that "the Dyms had been in the midst of marital problems." "They had a for sale sign up, so people were going over and looking at the house and stuff, and I think they were actually selling the house." The 4,661 square foot home on Fox Hill rd was on the market for $1.699 million, with 5 bedrooms, 4 1/2 bathrooms and a pool on two acres.

The inconsolable son of Westchester real estate executive Steven Dym arrived home Monday to the house where his dad just days earlier killed the young man's sister and mom before turning the shotgun on himself. The grim homecoming came as new details emerged on Dym’s shady financial dealings — with allegations in one lawsuit alone that he stole $200.000 from buildings he managed. State Police said they were investigating whether the murder-suicide was related to the financial strain and the cloak-and-dagger lifestyle that Dym had been leading. One suit filed by the owners of an East Village building in 2015 said Dym and his company, Gabriel Management, used the building’s account as a private piggy bank. He also skimmed money on tax bills or bank refinance fees and submitted fake invoices, according to the lawsuit. Besides cash, Dym allegedly stole financial records and refused to return them.

Financial distress can spread across every aspect of your life, damaging your personal well-being. Stress slows you down, interfering with personal progress and actually stopping you in your tracks, at times, when the strain is beyond that which you can reasonably bear. The stakes are high when dealing with personal finances, so money problems cause anxiety. Left unchecked, the resulting, nagging financial distress can grow into depression, anxiety, and other challenges, creating a cycle that’s hard to break. Life stress is cumulative, so money worries pile-on, along with other concerns. When financial insecurity rises it can manifest physically, with sleep interruptions. Physical, mental, and emotional well-being are closely linked, so money worries can manifest in many ways.

God's command: 1 Peter 5:6-7. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he exalt you in due time:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Covetousness = 1) profit, unjust gain, gain acquired by violence (spiritual violence = bringing lies about God's Salvation)

Isaiah 57:15-21 "15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name Holy; I dwell in the high and holy, with him also of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit fail before me, and the souls I have made.17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to far off, and to near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.20 But the wicked like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.21 no peace, saith my God, to the wicked"

2 Peter 2:1-3 "1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not"

2 Peter 2:12-17 "12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of *Balaam of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever"

*Balaam of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness: read Numbers chapter 22 thru chapter 24. Numbers 22:12-13 "12 And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they [are] blessed.13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you"

From these verses the command of God is clear, not to go; Balaam seems to be a child of God, but his heart is revealed when confronted with material gain or profit.

Numbers 22:15-19 "15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.16 and they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:17 For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I know what the LORD will say unto me more"

Balaam did not need to go ask God again, but his heart loved the wages of unrighteousness, his heart was moved by the promotion unto very great honor that Balak offered him. By what is said about Baalam in Numbers chapter 22 thru chapter 24, he looks like a child of God; but the scriptures let us know that Baalam was a cursed child (child of the Devil) in 2 Peter 2:12-17.

Jeremiah 6:10-14 "10 To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they hear? behold, their ear uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.11 Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with full of days.12 And their houses shall be turned unto others, fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD.13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.14 They have healed also the hurt of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when no peace"

Verses 13 and 14 describe today's Christianity, teaching freewill of man doctrine and physical commandments. It is all about material and physical gain.

Jeremiah 7:8-11 "8 Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit.9 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not.10 And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?11 Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen [it], saith the LORD"

Jeremiah 23:30-32 "30 Therefore, behold, I against the prophets, saith the LORD, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.31 Behold, I [am] against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.32 Behold, I against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD"

Ezekiel 33:30-33 "30 Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD.31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee [as] my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, [but] their heart goeth after their covetousness.32 And, lo, thou [art] unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.33 And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them"

1 Timothy 6:8-11 "8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.10 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.11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness"

Today's Christianity is all about money; most congregations bring a Gospel of material and physical blessings; their heart is in this world. If you go to their prayer meetings, listen: all their cry is about material and physical needs. Most Christians do not understand or cannot see that God is in control of everything, that He is bringing Salvation to the souls of his elect/chosen people.

Jeremiah 23:16 "Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, not out of the mouth of the LORD"

Freewill of man doctrine teachers make people vain, they speak a vision of their own heart; they corrupt the word of the Lord.

Corrupt = (Greek) 1) rotten, putrefied 2) corrupted by one and no longer fit for use, worn out 3) of poor quality, bad, unfit for use, worthless.

Today's meaning = adj 1) guilty of dishonest practices, as bribery; lacking integrity; crooked. 2) debased in character; depraved; perverted; wicked; evil.3) made inferior by errors or alterations, as a text. Verb = 1) to destroy the integrity of; cause to be dishonest, disloyal, etc., esp. by bribery.2) to alter (a language, text, etc.) for the worse.3) to infect; taint.

Matthew 12:33-37 "33 Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by its fruit.34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned"