The understanding may be convinced of the truth; but the cares, pleasures, and riches of this world come in and choke the Word.
Now these “cares” are most subtle things, because they enter as necessary duties, and there is no sin in doing one’s duty. Nay, it is right that a man should do his duty in his daily calling. But if these duties choke the Word, and a man loses his soul through it, what then?
The natural tendency of the heart often needs to be met with that Word, “Take heed and beware of covetousness” (Luke 12). It is the love of possession. One came to the Lord, saying,
“Master, speak to my brother that he divide the inheritance with me.” The heart wanted to keep it.
If the love of the world or covetousness gets in among the saints it is an insidious thing, and most difficult to meet, because it is often not open to discipline, and yet if covetousness slips into the heart, it checks the power of Christ over the soul and conscience, and eats out the practical life of the Christian, and his soul is withered, withered, withered.
It may be checked by the power of God coming in, but this covetous care about earthly things is so subtle, that while there is nothing on which to lay the hand, the practical power of Christian life in the soul is gone, though, of course, I need hardly say, eternal life can never be lost in those who once had it.