Welcome. Today we are going to push further into our seven deadly sins series, and look at the sin of greed. These sins are quite obvious, but for some unknown reasons they still seem to permeate our society and lives.

The reason may be because of the spiritual wickedness in high places in which we struggle against. (Eph 6:12) This is why we must be reminded to watch out for these sins and work to counter them in our lives. We must be vigilant not only for ourselves, but for our children, the upcoming generation, and because we are under scrutiny for being Christians. We must do all we can to magnify the Lord in our lives.

Let’s start by defining greed, and getting our little fast facts out of the way. Greed is: inordinate or insatiable desire for gain; covetousness and greediness. In contemporary times, we tend to view greed as material wealth for the most part.

Greed is associated with the toad, and the color yellow. One version of the afterlife says that the greedy will be smashed face down into the earth since they were so concerned for earthly riches. Another claims that they will be boiled in oil. It will be the best, most expensive oil, but it will still be boiling. Pleasant.

The one thing about greed that strikes me is that it is much more deeply embedded in our society than any of the other sins. Sure there is a lot of sex around, but a good person can turn off their t.v., but no matter what you do, you cannot avoid either being greedy or, more likely, feeding another person’s greed.

In fact, greed is almost a virtue to many in our society. Getting ahead, being successful is measured oftentimes by material wealth. Capitalism is a system that needs consumerism, but also one that encourages greed. The reason people desire to be rich is so that they can spend money, and the cycle of spending and gathering of currency is what keeps our world going round.

We are bred, in the West here, into this ‘gimme gimme’ attitude. You want a Wii, so you go work selling other people sno-cones until you can afford your Wii. So you gather money from others seeking a service or product until you have enough to get the service or product you want, giving the guy that sold it to you money he’ll turn back over to someone else in some other service or product. That way the money goes round, and the system works out pretty well for the most part.

The slippery part is realizing that it’s easy to edge onto greed when thinking of things one might want.

This and you can add in the credit crisis in our country. That too is based on materialistic greed, and may touch on, for some people, envy of their neighbors. The plastic card is getting far too common these days.

People will become envious of a neighbor’s fence, and so they go to the store, realize they don’t have or want to spend the money on the spot, so what do they do? They charge it.

They charge it to a card with an interest rate that would have landed most of these lenders on short ropes from tall trees as recently as a hundred years ago. There would be howls over usury all over the place if a person from the time before the plastic takeover was to suddenly appear.

Now Americans are not just greedy, they are impatient as well. If you cannot afford that thing you just got to have, charge it! That way you can have it, and worry about paying for it later. Of course later will hit you like a ton of bricks, if you are as careless as most people. I’ve heard it said that six out of every ten Americans are in debt due to credit cards and overextending their financial reach.

There was a time when if you wanted something, you saved up for it. When you had the money, you would go get whatever it was you wanted. That way you didn’t have to worry about being put out since the item was already paid for.

Pre-paid is the way to go, take the hit to the pocketbook now, that way you can decide if you really want it that bad. (Rom 13:8)  Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Greed swirls around us in this capitalistic society, so we must keep ourselves grounded. The best way to do that is to read the Bible. Let’s see what we can learn of greed from the Word.

(Psa 10:3)  For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. Here we see that the greedy man spurns God by taking pleasure in something God abhors.

(Pro 11:6)  The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. The greedy will be caught in their own materialism.

(Luk 12:15)  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Jesus Christ said that it is not what you own that matters in your life.

(2Pe 2:3)  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. False teachers will bilk you of your money for their greed if they can.

(2Pe 2:14)  Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: a heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children. False prophets have trained their hearts in greedy ways.

(1Ti 6:7)  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. It’s stupid to be greedy since you can’t take it with you when you go, and you never know when your number is up.

(Mar 8:36)  For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? This is a good question, what good are possessions if you lose your own soul?

(Deu 8:18)  But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he swore unto thy fathers, as it is this day. What prosperity you do have comes from the Lord, and you should not forget this fact.

(1Ti 6:17)  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded; nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy. And if you are rich, do not be highminded or put your riches before the Lord in your faith, since God gives us all things, including life, and a planet to live on.

(Act 20:35)  I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. It is better to share than to horde, following in the same vein.

(Ecc 5:10)  He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. This is the biggest issue with our world today, the desire that can never be filled but yet that does not stop people from trying to scratch that need for more money.

(Heb 13:5)  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. This is quite sage advice.

(Jas 5:3)  Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. This is all the good the money you covet and greedily assemble brings you if you put the money ahead of the Lord in your heart.

(Pro 15:27)  He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live. Gifts here means bribes and other shady gifts given with an expectation of a return.

(Mat 19:23)  Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 19:24)  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Why is this so? Because most, if not all, truly materially rich people have a love of money. (1Ti 6:10)  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Until next time, God bless.

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