Reasons to Rid
Ourselves of all Greed (2)
Jesus
Christ instructs us to guard against all greed, because greed causes people to
desire temporary things, and lose satisfaction in God. Why should we rid
ourselves of all greed? There are many reasons:
1.
For a man’s life does not consist in
the abundance of his possessions (Luke 12:15). When we have been illuminated by
God and come to know the Bible, we realize that the eternal repository of our
spirit is more important than the temporary needs of the body, and that an
abundant life is more precious than a bountiful livelihood. Our lives are not
in our own hands, but in the hands of God who gives life. The children of God
should have the wisdom to distinguish the relative priorities and orders of
everyday existence.
2.
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take
nothing out of it (1 Timothy 6:7). Life is like a sojourn – bare from a
mother’s womb, and bare to return where one hails from. Since material things cannot
be brought into the eternity of the spiritual realm, we should not place too
much emphasis on temporary, corporeal things and neglect those with eternal
value, and especially not desire a world that is an enemy to God.
3.
Greed causes us to lose our love of
our Father (1 John 2:15). John admonishes us, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If
anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15) A
person who is hopelessly greedy will only be concerned for himself and disdain
all interpersonal relationships. Esau was one who desired the traditions of the
world. He treated lightly his own birthright and marriage, and made his parents
worry for him.
4.
Greed reverts us to slavery under
the King of the World. Although Christ, through the salvation of the Cross,
brought us back into the light from sin and the dominion of Satan, the King of
the World still employs all his wiles to tempt the Children of God into
stumbling and failing, and even falling back into his control. He is most fond
of using the glamour, pleasures, wealth, fame and power of the world to seduce
us into turning away from God and serving him.
5.
Greed will directly bring about
worry. Jesus taught people to rid themselves of all avarice, and used the
parable of the ignorant rich man to point out the foolishness of those who
covet wealth. He followed by teaching us not to worry about our lives - what to
eat, and our bodies – what to wear (Luke 12:15-32). Many people fall into the
snare of worry because they covet what is not their due. Greed and worry
constitute a snake with two heads. We should be cautious lest we be bitten by
it.
6.
Greed will generate a series of
failures and bad consequences. The love of money is the root of all evil. In
Chapter 6 of 1 Timothy, Paul points out that greed, especially the love of
money, will cause Christians to slip step by step and stumble in their
spiritual journey. People
who are eager for money fall into temptation and wander from the faith, and so
are pierced with many griefs. They descend into delusion (trials) and end up in
the trap of Satan, where many foolish and harmful desires entangle them and
plunge them into ruin, finally inviting destruction.
7.
The greedy will not inherit the
Therefore the children of God must
be very cautious, and not allow any greedy thoughts to germinate in their hearts.
They should take satisfaction in the grace bestowed by God, learn to count the
blessings of the Lord, be compassionate towards the down-trodden and poor, and
zealously be a blessing to others for the sake of the Lord.
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