Everywhere we move around we are constantly
bombarded by the external influences in the media, most of it seeking to seduce
our earthly fleshly desires. Our society is transfixed on materialism and gain,
wealth and possessions, and there is an indirect pressure even on believers to
conform to their thinking, the pattern of the world.
Definition of greed
(n)
Bing
Dictionary
Greed
strong desire for more: an overwhelming desire to have more of
something such as money than is actually needed
Synonyms: gluttony,
voracity, ravenousness, greediness, insatiability, hunger, self-indulgence,
appetite, craving
An excessive desire to acquire or possess
more than what one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material
wealth: "Many . . . attach to competition the stigma of
selfish greed" (Henry Fawcett) 1.
Greed is the inordinate desire to possess wealth, goods, or
objects of abstract value with the intention to keep it for one's self, far
beyond the dictates of basic survival and comfort. It is applied to a markedly
high desire for and pursuit of wealth, status,
and power2.
How do we triumph over greed, indulgence
and materialism? Greed is a very dangerous disposition of a person’s make up,
and it often comes out of a fear that God’s resources and love are in short
supply. Very often when we allow Satan to work in our heart/mind we think more
about us and not about God. We want everything under the sun, and we want it
under our control, because we in our warped perspective think that we can
control every event and situation around us. We want more money, then slowly
more power, and of course fame adds its ugly head along with it, and along with
it comes different strange relationships, in order to calm our fears. We tend
to believe if we have the above in our control it will calm all of our fears,
and we will be really secure. Dear friend
what a warped perspective for life! Do you want to know the reality? The
reality is there will never be enough of anything we seek, if the reason we
seek is for security and self-worth.
The dangers of greed are so many and the
most important one is it robs us off some beautiful relationships. It robs us
off our relationship with God, and also with godly men and women in this earth.
Suddenly we find that we can not have any reasonably good relationship with
people and we become very selfish, and we are in the downward spiral of fear. This
fear separates us from people makes one think that all other people are their
enemies and none of the people around them are good enough for them. The real
enemy (the enemy of our soul) enters our life in his different strategies,
tentacles, format and colors and he is conquering our heart, emotions and mind.
I have mentioned to you in my previous blogs that there is a definite beautiful
connection between heart and mind. Satan is capable of putting the thought in
our mind, and processesing it so beautifully and it gradually descends to our
heart and then makes us believe it is so true! What a warped perspective?
This warped perspective finally destroys
the one who allows Satan’s strategies and in that process all the beautiful
relationships God has given in our lives are destroyed too. In a nut shell,
greed is dangerous because it robs us of the capacity for gratitude,
generosity, love and most of all the beautiful freedom from fear.
The Parable of the Rich Fool
13 Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” 15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, [a] for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” 16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ 21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Luke 12:13-21; New King James Version (NKJV)
Time and again there are so many warnings
in the word of God against greed. In the above story we notice that Jesus is
not condemning all rich people, but giving a serious warning to those who are
not rich towards God. It is important that we keep our focus and be cautious so
the material world will not blind us to the spiritual world which is the true
world. Bible says that the things of this world will pass away, and it will be
burned up! Is it worth to let fear and greed rule our lives, and rob us off
from godly people? Is it worth to be under the yoke of Satan and giving undue
importance to resources and in that process allowing Satan to rob us off the
riches that comes from a trusting heart towards God?
This parable reminds us that death is the
final war, and very often it does clarify things in the right perspective. Very
often death of a loved one or our own death makes us reassess things from our
previous wrong perspectives. Death is the chief end of all mankind according to
God’s beautiful Words. Death indeed makes us revaluate what the purpose of life
is, and it causes us to ask ourselves what really matters?
What is the tragedy of all tragedies? Fear…..The fear that underlies greed misses the reality of God’s abundant
love, resources, and robs us off our only hope. The living hope and security which
the world can not give are found in God alone because God’s resources never run
dry. Wow! We have a great resource in
God, in Christ Jesus, and He is Jehovah Jireh our great provider!
The older brother by Jewish law receives a double portion of the inheritance, and this man is asking Jesus to speak with authority regarding the situation in his favour. Here we observe that this man does not ask Jesus to decide what is just, but he wants a decision to be rendered in his favour. It is also not very clear whether the other brother has asked Jesus to judge this matter of inheritance and Jesus’ reply indicates that the man has improper motives and priorities. Christ is taking this occasion to warn against covetousness which is a desire to have more than God in His providence has allotted for each one. Christ is not warning against the lawful desire of getting his own, but the sinful desire of getting more than his own.
In some ways, this rich man’s actions and questions towards Jesus were logical and appropriate, although we can detect a greater degree of self-centredness; 16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. 17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ 18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. The following verse clearly reveals that the man’s attitude comes out because of his warped perspective and it does prove that he is not rich towards the things of God; 19 and I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”
Christ is asking us to guard our hearts, because it is easy for Satan to put covetous principles into our hearts and destroy us. 15 And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, [a] for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Our happiness, comfort and self-worth does not depend on our having a great deal of wealth of this world, and very often they work against the nature of our soul and destroy us completely if we put our trust in this earthly goods for security. Wealth and material possessions are not evil in themselves, but when we begin seeking them rather than seeking God we need to be on alert because we are in a danger zone.
God’s Word explicitly admonishes that God’s people must not have any hint of greed because it is improper; Eph: 5:3. Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life are not of God, but of the world and our love for them is definitely a proof that God’s love is not in us. Lord we pray that You would deliver us from greed, indulgence, materialism and the lust for more which will never give the satisfaction and security which You are able to give. Give us a heart to seek Your Kingdom and righteousness, knowing that all our needs will be met by You; Matt: 6:33. Lord, we want to seek You not because what You can give us, but for what You have already given us: forgiveness and eternal life in Christ Jesus; Amen.
End Notes:
greed (gr d) n.
An excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves,
especially with respect to material wealth: "Many . . . attach to ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greed
Greed is the
inordinate desire to possess wealth, goods, or objects of abstract value with
the intention to keep it for one's self, far beyond the dictates of basic ...
Website References:
dictionary.reference.com/browse/greed
noun excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions.
Origin: 1600–10; back formation from greedy Related forms greedless, adjective
greedsome ...
greed n. An
excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves,
especially with respect to material wealth: 'Many
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