If it is true that we are never more like God than when we give, it must also be true that we are never less like God than when we behave selfishly. Greed is a quality exhibited by fictional characters like Ebenezer Scrooge and The Grinch, and biblical personalities such as Achan, Annanias, and Sapphira. Even the mention of these names evokes a mental picture of one whose life is devoted to greed.
Greed begins with the fear of not having enough. It ends with over-flowing barns of endless seed that could have been sown; but instead, produce an emptiness of never having enough. On one occasion, I took my son, Blake, to McDonalds. When I ate one of his French fries, he exclaimed. “Hey! Those are mine!” I said, “Son, I could buy ten more orders of fries.” He replied, “Eat all you want!” When we realize God has an endless supply of everything we need, greed never has to be a part of our vocabulary.
Proverbs 21:26
“He covets greedily all day long; but the righteous gives and spares not.”
Practical Application and Assignments:
Greed takes undisciplined selfishness to the next level. It is always accompanied with the sin of covetousness. It is the motivational factor that turns people into thieves.
- Learn to share. One of the first words young children learn to speak is, “mine.” Generosity is not a natural, innate response. It is a learned behavior. Sharing is an important part of our development.
- Get rid of the “me” syndrome. Envy and covetousness begins with selfishness which produces greed. The moment your life stops being all about “you” is the day your life will start to have new meaning.
- Attack the spirit of greed. Choose something that is important to you and give it away. Share out of your abundance with someone who is in need. Take it a step farther, share out of your lack into someone’s poverty.
“He that is greedy of gain, troubles his own house.” Proverbs 15:27
