Divinely Covetous
True holiness is a never-ending pursuit, making a man divinely covetous for more of God's presence and perfection.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that true holiness is characterized by an insatiable desire for greater holiness. A genuinely holy person continually strives for higher degrees of holiness, recognizing that mere measures of holiness are insufficient for their spiritual journey. This relentless pursuit is fueled by a desire to glorify God, sin less, and experience a deeper relationship with Him. Brooks asserts that true holiness knows no limits, making a holy individual divinely covetous in their quest for spiritual growth. Ultimately, a holy man will never feel he has enough holiness, akin to the unquenchable desires seen in other pursuits of life.
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He who is truly holy will be still a-reaching and stretching
himself out after higher degrees of holiness. Yes, a man
who is truly holy can never be holy enough; he sets no
bounds nor limits to his holiness; the perfection of holiness
is the mark that he has in his eye; he hears, and prays, and
mourns, and studies, and strives--that he may come up to
the highest pitch of holiness.
Received measures of holiness will not satisfy a holy soul;
so much holiness as will keep hell and his soul asunder--will
not satisfy him; nor will so much holiness as will bring him
to eternal happiness satisfy him. He will be still reaching and
stretching out after the highest measures of holiness; his
desires are for more holiness. The beauties of holiness do
so affect him and inflame him, that he cannot but desire
to be more and more holy. "Lord," says the soul, "I desire
to be more holy, that I may glorify Your name more. Lord,
I desire to be more holy, that I may sin less against You,
and that I may enjoy more of You! I would be more holy,
that I may be more victorious over all earthly vanities."
A holy man earnestly prays for more holiness. He prays
that his spark of holiness may be turned into a flame, his
drop of holiness into a sea, and his mite of holiness into
a rich treasury.
I dare boldly to say, that that man was never truly holy,
who does not endeavor to get up to the highest pitches
of holiness. True holiness knows no restrictions nor limitation.
True holiness makes a man divinely covetous. Look! as the
victorious man can never make enough conquests, nor can
the ambitious man ever have enough honor, nor can the
voluptuous man ever have enough pleasure, nor can the
worldling ever have enough mammon--no more can a man
of holiness have ever have enough holiness. As the grave
and the barren womb are never satisfied, they never say
"it is enough," Proverbs 30:15-16--just so, a holy man,
while he is on this side eternity, he is never satisfied,
he can never say that he has holiness enough.
Sermon Outline
- True Holiness Knows No Bounds
- A holy man sets no limits to his holiness
- He strives for the highest pitch of holiness
Key Quotes
“True holiness makes a man divinely covetous.” — Thomas Brooks
“He will be still reaching and stretching out after the highest measures of holiness;” — Thomas Brooks
“A holy man earnestly prays for more holiness.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- A holy man should strive for the highest pitch of holiness, with no limits or restrictions.
- True holiness makes a man divinely covetous, always desiring more of God's presence and perfection.
- A holy man should earnestly pray for more holiness, that his spark may be turned into a flame.