A great master of disguise: greed

Last week, we spent some time talking about a great master of disguise: Greed.

Greed is a funny topic, and somewhat emotionally and politically charged as of late. But, if we set aside our leanings for a minute and look at how greed is defined:

greed

noun: excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions.

What kinds of greed do we see today? As a group, we called out examples such as:

• Monetary gain: WIIFM (what’s in it for me?)
• Get rich quick approach/mentality
• Stepping on others to get ahead
• Market share/monopolize by driving competition out of business
• Squandering of resources

Are any of these examples familiar in your world?

Ever feel guilted into giving?

Why is that we do not make giving decisions in the same way we make spending decisions?

We justify spending for tangible things, even stretch and rearrange our finances to obtain the new car or appliance. But, when it comes to giving, we justify the reasons to hold on to what we have or give just a little.

Why do we do this?

As Christians, do you ever feel guilted into giving to the building campaign or the missions fund? Do you give out of guilt instead of joy?

How do you get your heart engaged so that you are giving out of joy?

Where your treasure goes, you heart follows

Our heart is in the right place – we want to do it right. In fact, if there was a magic prayer to recite that would help us all bypass greed, we’d all recite it, and then we’d call our wives and our friends and have them do that same!

“Watch out – be on your guard against all kinds of greed… a man’s life does not exist on the abundance of his possessions.” – Luke 12:15

If you’re looking at the definition of greed and trying to figure out how to identify it, look no further than your own heart:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” – Matt 6:19-21 (NIV)

Ask yourself, not out of guilt, but out of awareness – where is your heart?