Articles
Coping with Life 18 – Greed
Coping with Life 18 – Greed
By Mike Willis
Greed is defined as “a very strong wish to continuously get more of something, especially food or money.” Greed is listed among the works of the flesh in several passages (Matt. 23:25; Luke 11:39; 1 Cor. 5:11; 1 Thess. 2:5; 2 Pet. 2:3, 14). There is nothing wrong with a “very strong wish to continuously get more of something” when it is under control. But, sometimes one’s desires to have something become his god. For this reason, Paul called covetousness “idolatry” (Col. 3:5).
Generally, one is greedy for money. When one’s desire for money is too great, it may lead that person to become so focused on being rich that he loses the ability to balance his obligations to God, work, and family. Sometimes, a person will chase higher paying jobs, requiring him to work such long hours that his mate and children are neglected. Sometimes this leads to the breaking apart of the family. Sometimes one’s desire for money leads him to choose his life’s occupation primarily on the basis of a higher salary. In so doing, he may condemn himself to working in a job that he detests just because it pays more. How often have you met workers who hated going to work every day of their lives?
Greed for money can lead to crimes such as petty theft, bank robbery, embezzlement, fraud, larceny, shoplifting, burglary, auto theft, credit card fraud, identity theft, etc. Each of these crimes have legal consequences. The minds of criminals are constantly focused on figuring out a way to take someone else’s assets without getting caught.
Arthur Schopenhauer is attributed with saying, “Wealth is like sea-water; the more we drink, the thirstier we become; and the same is true of fame.” We could add other things to wealth and fame, including political power. But what Schopenhauer said exposes something that may not be so apparent: there is an empty place in the human heart that one is trying to fill, but what is being put in the empty hole is never able to fill it.
When one realizes this, he may be on the road to recovery. The centerpiece of one’s life should be God: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deut. 6:5). He alone can satisfy the deepest desires of the human heart and whatever one puts in the place of God will never be adequate. When God has priority in one’s life, all the other puzzle pieces will fit into their proper place, making one’s life a beautiful masterpiece.
