How Serious Is Greed?

Season 2 Episode 18 - In today's world, the prevailing culture is one of focusing on amassing as much "stuff" as possible - for fun, pleasure, and prestige.  This prevailing trend is easy for even followers of Jesus to be influenced, to the point that we are tempted to be greedy and to covet what others have.  But this tendency toward greed is obviously not as serious as some other "big" sins listed in the Bible that believers should avoid, right?  Listen to today's episode and find out!

"Reflect on This" is a once-weekly, short devotional podcast. In these devotionals, I share the things I am learning about living life with God-given purpose and meaning, through applying the Scriptures to life in practical and fulfilling ways.
 
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Resources that inspired some episodes:

"Boundaries" by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

"The Pleasure of His Company" by Dutch Sheets

"Fresh Air" by Chris Hodges

“Dream Small:  The Secret Power of the Ordinary Christian Life” by Seth Lewis
 
 Blog by Seth Lewis:  https://sethlewis.ie/

“The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts” by Gary Chapman

"The Lies We Believe: Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life" by Dr. Chris Thurman

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“Agape Puppets” (ministry)
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Transcript

A friend recently pointed out a sobering statement about so-called followers of Jesus who are greedy:

1 Corinthians 5:11 NIV  But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.

Greedy (Greek, G4123 – pleonektes, pleh-on-ek'-tace) = One who wants more, a person covetous of something that others have, a defrauder for gain. (The Complete Word Study Dictionary)

This same Greek word is used by Paul in the following passages:

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 HCSB  Don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God's kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or anyone practicing homosexuality,  (10)  no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God's kingdom.

Ephesians 5:5 NIV  For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

These are 3 strong statements about greed!  Note that greed is listed with sexual immorality, stealing, idolatry, slander, getting drunk, fraud, and deceit.  God obviously considers greed in a believer to be very, very serious.

This Greek word for greedy is describing a person who is covetous of something that others have.  God considers coveting so serious that it is part of the Ten Commandments :

Exodus 20:17 NIV  "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."  [The tenth commandment]

The Life Application Bible notes say, “To covet is to wish to have the possessions of others. It goes beyond simply admiring someone else's possessions or thinking, "I'd like to have one of those." Coveting includes envy—resenting the fact that others have what you don't. God knows, however, that possessions never make anyone happy for long. Since only God can supply all our needs, true contentment is found only in Him.” 

Note that this commandment (to not covet) addresses not only our external actions but also our internal attitudes of the heart.

My sense is that these passages are referring to any believer that habitually commits these sins, without remorse and without any intention to change their heart attitude toward the sins.  When we are greedy, we must confess it as sin and make things right - with God and with whomever we sinned against.

Why is greed considered by God to be as serious as all of the other listed sins that will prevent a so-called follower of Jesus from actually inheriting the kingdom of God?  Because, like the other sins, it reveals if the person has a genuine relationship with Jesus – if the person actually knows Jesus.

 This statement is based on my observations from the following passage:

Matthew 7:21-23 NASB  "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  (22) Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'  (23)  "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'  

My observations:

·         “Practice lawlessness” implies habitual sin.

·         “I never knew you.” The Greek word used here is referring to an intimate knowledge.  So Jesus’ statement implies a lack of genuine, intimate relationship.

The big idea can be summarized as what I call the “4D Principle of Following Jesus”:  Does a person follow Jesus with Deeds and Duty and Decrees (rules, law), or out of Delight in a genuine, intimate relationship with Him?

Remember: Practicing greed and covetousness prevents us from having a genuine, intimate relationship with Jesus, and prevents us from delighting in the pleasure of His company.

Today, I encourage you to “Reflect on This.”