Greed

Last Tuesday I wrote a little about anger and forgiveness. Because of the introduction about how anger is one of the "Seven Deadly Sins", I decided to do a little research on exactly what that means.

Here is what Wikipedia had to say:

The seven deadly sins, also known as the capital vices or cardinal sins, are a classification of vices that were originally used in early Christian teachings to educate and instruct followers concerning (immoral) fallen man's tendency to sin.

You can also click on the following link to find out more:

http://www.le.ac.uk/arthistory/seedcorn/faq-sds.html

Here are the "Seven Deadly Sins":

Lust, Gluttony, Greed, Sloth, Wrath, Envy, and Pride

There is actually no Biblical reference to the seven deadly sins. Proverbs 6:16-19 is the closest account I could find that even came close: These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

For the next few weeks, on Tuesday's, we will touch on a few....or all, if the Lord so leads...of these "deadly" sins. Today we'll talk a little bit about greed. Several times during the past few weeks, I've been in situations where greed was very much evident. We can be greedy about a lot of things, not just money:

Luke 12:15 (NIV)
Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

Have you ever known somebody who just wasn't happy if they didn't have the finest of everything...the finest car, the finest home, the best clothes money could buy? That is a form of greed...always wanting more. You know the sad part about those type of people....they usually aren't very happy. They seem to think that "things" will make them happy, but once they get them, they realize they didn't fill that void they are trying to fill with "stuff"!!! I've never thought of myself as greedy...but I can think of situations where I know I displayed an evil spirit of greed...wanting somebody's full attention and not sharing them with others...expecting somebody to do something for me when they had other things to do...being greedy about food (next week's topic...gluttony!!!)

I'm sure many of you have received this little story via e-mail...it speaks volumes about greed:

“A Native American grandfather talking to his young grandson tells the boy he has two wolves inside of him struggling with each other. The first is the wolf of peace, love and kindness. The other wolf is fear, greed and hatred. "Which wolf will win, grandfather?" asks the young boy. "Whichever one I feed," is the reply.”

"Whichever one I feed".....WOW!!! Are we practicing peace, love and kindness towards one another...or, are we showing fear, greed and hatred? This actually brings tears to my eyes....I can't honestly say that I have always chosen the first three...I've allowed those last three to control me at times.

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

I want to leave you with a little something to think about:

“Not everything you want is everything you really need. The standard of society is motivated by greed. Are you prepared to follow, tell me, are you prepared to lead?So perservere and you'll succeed.”

In His Love...and with mine!!!