Greed

This morning the ABC network reported on the excessive life-style of Marie Douglas-David, a Swedish countess currently appealing her divorce settlement from former husband, George David.  The report implicated her 'greed' by bearing critically on her request for more money than her alloted $53,000 per week.  Her reasoning?  This wasn't enough to cover her expenses. 

When we hear of things like this, especially in today's economic clime, we cringe.  While around us people are losing jobs, houses, and even their dignity - news of this stuns our sensibilities.  We cry... "What greed!"  "How dare she!"  And, "who does she think she is?" 

Wikipedia defines greed as, 'the desire or pursuit of money, wealth, power, food or possessions - especially when this denies the same goods to others' and based on this definition, a lot of us are in trouble.  In Catholicism, greed is one of the seven deadly sins - and in Colossians 3:5 we are told that greed is a form of idolatry - a direct breach against God's Command to have and hold  'other God's' before Him. 

But while pointing our finger at the person who wants more than $53,000 a week to live on is easy, it can also keep us from looking at our own selves in the mirror.  We, who so often pass by a brother or sister in need to offer them absolutely nothing - while we complain over living with our $1,000 (or whatever) per week.  

So what should we do?  Well Jesus gives sound advice.  

1. We are not to place the needy above Christ (Matthew 26:11) 

2. We are to give, when we give, as 'as unto' Him  - and are commended in so doing.  (Matthew 25:44-45)

Jesus said that 'we will always have the poor with us,' which is sobering - not in plight but opportunity.  An opportunity for us to say no to greed, yes to God, and yes to others - all in the name, and fame, of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

Pastor Sam