America’s No. 1 growth industry is health care. This is not due to deadly epidemics, environmental meltdown or massive public disease. It’s due to greed. It has given birth to the saying, “When health and profit meet and clash, never bet against the cash.”
Greed is universal. Unrestrained, excessive greed is the biggest spiritual issue we face. There is mounting evidence that greed is at the root of most of our personal failures and our social values.
Greed drives crooked police and corrupt politicians, motivates CEOs who grasp obscene salaries, and is behind the murders in the drug world. Greed drives both the owners of sports teams and the players who play. Greed, not lust, drives the pornographic industry. Greed surfaces when children read the will of a deceased parent, and scam artists steal from the elderly. Greed explains much of the cheating on college campuses. Greed is the reason some executives make more money in their first half day of work each year than their workers make in an entire year. The executives on Wall Street and swindlers like Bernie Madoff did not invent greed, but they have taken it to a new level.
The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, wrote 2,500 years ago: “There is no calamity greater than lavish desires, no greater guilt than discontentment and no greater disaster than greed.” If he’s right, and I think he was, we’ve concocted a mighty sick world for ourselves.
Greed is a nasty word. Greed is not a good attribute. No one wants to be described as greedy. When you think of greed you think of things such as money and wealth. There is more to this word than you may think. One definition is “a selfish and excessive desire for more than is needed.” That could be anything in this world you could ever want.
So, why do we hear so little about greed in the church?
WHAT IS GREED?
Greed is an excessive, unreasonable and unwarranted craving to acquire and possess more than one needs or deserves, especially at the expense of others, and certainly while others are in desperate circumstances. Greed has no age or economic exclusions. It is found in little children, college students, singles and married couples and seniors who still lust for more. The greedy pile up their wealth and acquisitions in the face of those who have little. They flaunt their wealth. The executives of some of the large banks collect massive bonuses while thousands lose their jobs, homes and retirement funds. Rich people can be greedy but so can poor people.
Greed is not the same as the desire to succeed, however the motivation to achieve success can be driven by greed. Ambition is not bad within limits. Hard work and fair rewards are good. However, it is never good to take from the poor and give to the rich and that’s exactly what this country is doing today.
Our consumer culture has made us dissatisfied, economic pawns. Some even define greed as a virtue and a legitimate guiding principle for economic prosperity. In the process, greed has eaten away the foundation of our society.
Some would say that greed is just a minor byproduct of capitalism. Certainly there are some inherent advantages to a capitalistic system over a socialistic economy, but there are also some problems. We need to remind ourselves that neither capitalism nor socialism is Christian. In fact, capitalism and socialism are basically two forms of materialism and materialism is condemned in Scripture.
The culture of greed has brought us to the point where desire no longer accepts satisfaction. Today, desire desires desire, which creates constant greed.
Greed is a disease. It’s a contagious virus that corrupts and destroys society. Some say greed is good, but the Bible calls it sin. Economists say greed is an incentive for innovation, development and progress, all of which benefit society. The Bible sees through all this. The church fathers called greed one of seven deadly sins. It is a sin of excess.
The Bible repeatedly condemns greed. Over and over, it is lumped together with other forms of gross immorality. For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder adultery, greed… (Mark 7:21). Watch out! Be on guard against all kinds of greed. (Luke 12:15). They are like the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. (Matthew 23:25). But among you, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality or any kind of impurity or of greed… No immoral, impure or greedy person … has any place in the kingdom of Christ. (Ephesians 5:3, 5).
Jesus put greed in the same category as lust. The Bible calls greed idolatry. Greed is frightening. Greed is ensnaring. Greed is bad for us.
AND IN THE CHURCH?
Where is the church in all this? When was the last time you heard a sermon on greed?
It is time for the church to speak up. Sadly, however, many leaders in the church have been influenced by the world rather than influencing the world. Extravagant lifestyles have robbed some leaders of the credibility necessary to be the salt of the earth.
Today, before we point the finger at the greed of those in the world, let us remember that the world has merely followed the example of many church leaders who have amassed significant wealth and accumulated extravagant possessions.
Many church leaders have forgotten what Peter wrote. Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers — not because you must but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve… (1 Peter 5:2). Paul said, You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed. (1 Thessalonians 2:5).
Greed is a worldview that has infected many in the church. Greed is the mindset of this world. It is one of the more insidious forms of worldliness.
TYPES OF GREED
Greed takes many forms. Some are greedy for power and influence. They strain to climb the corporate ladder in order to reach a position of control. Some sociologists say that while money and sex are the temptations of the young, the lust for power is far more powerful in those who are middle-aged and older.
Some are greedy for the perks and privileges of wealth. They crave the comforts and conveniences of affluence and will do anything to acquire them.
Others have a pathological need to accumulate and acquire. They have a deep emotional need to have more and more of anything. Some greed comes from the fear running of out of money and not having enough in the future. Of course, it is an illusion to think that having more and more stuff is an insurance policy against poverty. Happiness and fulfillment do not come from obtaining what we don’t have but from appreciating what we do have.
THE CURE FOR GREED
How do we keep from drowning in our world’s fast rising tide of greed? I think there are three steps.
i. Divest and donate.
The way to slay the giant of greed is to be a generous giver. If you get your thrills from helping others, it destroys greediness. Bill Gates is a classic example of this. Gates is one of the richest men in the world. He has earned his wealth legitimately through building Microsoft and developing computer software. Yet he has given away hundreds of millions of dollars to help the destitute, needy and diseased throughout the world.
Hang out with the poor. Visit a third world country. Be reminded of those less fortunate than ourselves.
ii. Trust and rely on the Lord.
Relinquish control of your life to God. Trust him and let him look after you. Each of us needs to sign a declaration of dependence on God. He is faithful and has promised to care for us. I learned this from my mother. Her favorite verse was, I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. (Psalm 37:25).
Fall in love with Jesus. Experience his care. You have to let go of the toys of this world to fully embrace him. A grandfather was watching his year-old grandson learning to walk. The child was unsteady and shaky. He clutched his toys in both arms while others were around his feet. When his grandfather called him to come and give him a hug, the small child faced a dilemma. He couldn’t walk to his grandfather and stay with his toys. He had to choose. In order for the child to give his papa a hug with both arms, he had to let go of his toys.
iii. Learn contentment.
Greed is rooted in dissatisfaction with what one has. Greed is based on the false premise that more is better. The Bible teaches that Godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6). It really is possible to simplify your life. Just decide to be content with what you have. The psalmist said, Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. (Psalm 73:25).
Studies in the United States found that, from the early 1970s to the late 1990s, the percentage of people who are ‘very happy’ actually dropped from 34 per cent to 30 per cent, despite higher incomes, more possessions and improved living standards.
The globalization of greed is as destructive as HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases. Greed destroys social equality. You cannot have both unrestrained greed and equality. In the end, unchecked greed erodes freedom, undermines the social fabric and is an undemocratic force.
Mental health professionals are saying that greed is beginning to overwhelm conscience, reason, compassion, love, family bonds and community. Moreover, they say, existing levels of constant greed are causing clinical depression and despair in many people. Pathological greed can contribute to a host of ills, including stress, burnout, gambling addictions and loss of moral grounding.
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