Greed, A Consuming Passion

“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.” ‭‭James‬ ‭4:1-3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

"Its a dog eat dog world out there." Perhaps you have heard this statement. The pursuit of "stuff" has been a problem throughout man's history. Our sinful hearts are prone to covetousness. Greed is a consuming passion that has no satisfaction. The more we get, the more we want. Interestingly, the Bible warns us against the lure of money and possessions. The scriptures speak more about money than any other subject. Money, in and of itself, is not sinful. It cannot sin. Money is simply a means to an end. I can hear some of you saying something like "I have more ends than means." We all have day to day needs. However, there is a clear distinction between needs and wants. Most of us have more than we need. Most of us are accustomed to living at a certain status. We think we are poor if we can't afford to eat out. Now, let me be clear. Poverty is a real issue with many in the world. The problem is this: if a person can afford to own a smart phone and pay the monthly bill, yet they can't pay the electric bill or other necessary expenses, their priorities are misplaced. A mobile phone is a luxury, not a life necessity. We think we have to keep up with everyone else. We want the latest styles and fashions. We want the biggest and best HD TVs. We think its normal to order take out or to get delivery. In many respects, most of us are spoiled. We are living in a society and culture that lives for "things" and the pleasure they bring. We do whatever it takes to protect this way of life, including working extra long hours and missing church. We use tithe money, that belongs to God, for "bills" that we create with our debts, such as fancy vehicles, credit cards, etc. All the while we claim Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We have lost our bearings and are headed headlong into an inevitable collapse. We must recognize our sin, repent of it, and ask God to help us trust in Him as our provider and protector. We should work hard and enjoy the benefits it brings, but we must always keep Jesus first in all our ways. "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:33‬ ‭NLT‬‬