Greed Is No Laughing Matter

Greed seems like a filthy word.

I have a few books containing famous quotations and cleverly written wise sayings. Several entries featured greed but they were never the witty kind. Comedians have made humor out of hurtful things, vulgar things, even sinful things, but not greed. Greed is not funny.

Greed stretches out to grab. Greed does not care who gets in the way. Greed simply desires and greed does not stop until desire is satisfied. Yet, greed is never satisfied.

Greed is filthy. Greed is ugly. Greed is pure selfishness.

What kind of people are greedy?

Wealthy people who are greedy may be more visible; their riches glitter, flash and dazzle. (Bling!) Wealthy people who are greedy confuse everyone else. After all, they are already rich. Why are they always grabbing for more?

However, greed is not about what a person has, but what they desire. Greed is about one’s attitude, not their net worth.

Have you ever met a poor greedy person. It is just as ugly. They too have an insatiable desire for more. They are takers, not givers. They excuse their greed because they lack. Yet, they share the same attitude with the wealthy person who is greedy: More, More, More!

Poverty never stopped a person from giving. Do you remember the widow with the two copper coins (Mark 12:41-44)? The churches in Macedonia, in their affliction, were generous in helping other Christians (2 Corinthians 8).

Now, think for a moment…
Does greed only involve money?
Absolutely not!

Greed grasps at money OR any physical possession, fame, influence, power, social status, educational achievement, award, and so on. In fact, that is the basic meaning of ‘mammon.’

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 
—Matthew 6:24 (NKJV)

It is not a sin to be rich. Think about Abraham or Job, both righteous men who were extremely wealthy. Nor is it a sin to be poor. (Think: The poor widow mentioned above, if you really need an example.) Yet, greed is offensive to God whether you are rich or poor or in between.

Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.
—Ephesians 5:3 (NLT)

In his divine character God is marked by grace, which is evident in his outpouring of blessings, benevolence, gifts, charity, and love. Greed is the opposite of God.

So put to death your worldly impulses: sexual sin, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). It is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. 
—Colossians 3:5-6 (ISV)

Are you a giver or a taker? Godly or greedy?

It doesn’t require money to be a giver, just a godly attitude. Choose ‘God-like-ness.’

Mark Stinnett