Problem solving through Christ: Greed

Hello Everyone,

We are continuing in the problem-solving through Christ series. I should have worded it differently though, it should be Christ solving problems through us as once we give our lives to Him. He is in us in all that we do.

This week we are going to cover something that is hard to define but so easy to get caught up in: the problem of greed. The reason it is hard to define is everyone thinks of greed differently. One person may see only money when they think of greed. Another may see land or material possessions. Webster's definition is : a selfish and excessive desire to have more of something than is needed.

If you look at it according to the dictionary definition it is not just money that can cause a person to be greedy. Anything that you have an excessive desire or obsess on can be seen as greed. Say you want the best seat at the football game, you think that you need to have a personalized parking space at work, or you have a collection of something and you just have to have that one item to complete your collection. These can all be seen as excessive and if we let them can control our lives. If they control us it can be hard for us to have an open relationship with God.

Matthew 6:24

No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

In Mark Jesus speaks about such things and warns us to beware of such people. If he warns us to beware of such people we could also take that as a warning not to become one of these people.

How many things in your life do you want more of than is needed?

Have a blessed week!

Billy


Mark 12:38-44


38And He said unto them in His doctrine, "Beware of the scribes, who love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
39and the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts,
40who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation."
41And Jesus sat opposite the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury. And many who were rich cast in much.
42And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
43And He called unto Him His disciples and said unto them, "Verily I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast more in than all they that have cast into the treasury;
44for they all cast in of their abundance, but she of her want cast in all that she had, even all her living."