Photo by Andrea Natali
Greed is like a drug; once it gets into you, you can’t stop yourself from that craving. Obese people have it, rich people have it, hoarders have it and even crafty business people have it. It is an insatiable beast that demands to be fed. Over time you become its slave and you don’t even realise it.
There is nothing wrong in seeking creature comforts per say, but when your life revolves around it, then you have a problem. We come into this world naked and we go out of it with nothing. So, why are we so obsessed with accumulating and consuming ‘stuff’? It is as if we are being sucked into a powerful vacuum cleaner.
Greed has other attachments; a puffy head and a haughty spirit soon follow. Those who accumulate beyond what is reasonable, justify their actions and do not heed the voice of caution. The attraction to self becomes pretty evident to onlookers. Yet, the person in the greed trap convinces himself that nothing is wrong and people are just jealous of him.
Where is your treasure? Read Matthew 6:19-24. Verses 19-21 (KJ2) says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust does corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
The anecdote to greed is found in 1 Timothy 6:18 where we are taught to do good, to be rich in good works and to be generous and to share. Proverbs 15:16 says, “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and turmoil with it.” Mark 10: 24 shows us that it is not about having riches but rather trusting in riches. We can use riches well, like Abraham and Jacob, but not be enslaved by it.
Greed comes with a great price tag and its casualties can be seen in cases like courtrooms amongst people filing for divorce and those people who are sued for embezzlement. Greed, tinged with great regret, is etched on the foolish man’s dying face at his hospital bed where there is only moments to live. There is no word to describe the feeling when that monster of greed gobbles people up. How very sad!
There is hope to those seeking a way out of the greed trap. Do not be like that rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-22 who did not take good instruction. ◊
Linda Pearl
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