Some theologian somewhere listed greed among the seven deadly sins, probably because greed is one of those nasty sins that so quickly triggers other sins. Lying to parents, or concocting a cover up lie to your boss starts with greed.
In the Bible greed pops up often in the company of the vilest sins church goers usually condemn with disgust. “Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral … nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy … will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9,10). Greed hurts not just victim, but perpetrator. God is the one who makes sure of it.
A mother saw her two little boys fighting over a toy. Seizing the moment for a lesson in Christian love she stepped between them and said, “How about if one of you pretends that he’s Jesus and lets his brother play with the toy first?”
The older, more street-wise of the two immediately turned and said to his brother, “You be Jesus.” The boy’s statement reveals twin truths about greed: people are greedy for what is bad, God is greedy for what is good.
Greedy to satisfy justice and exact his vengeance on every sin, God punished your sinful greed in his own Son Jesus Christ so that you are greedy no more. God will not shrink back from the powers of darkness that chase you in the night. God will not sit down and watch you sin uncontrollably. God will not stand by the side and let greed make a mess of your life. He is greedy for your soul, your forgiveness, your love!
“The zeal of the Lord will accomplish this” (Isaiah 9:7). God is greedy in his love for you.
So greed, if directed properly, can be good.
Be so greedy for your friends to know Jesus that when you’re out partying you do anything to make Jesus look good in your Christian decisions.
Be so greedy for your children to see caring, compassionate love that you’ll give up your own desires.
Be a greedy giver who isn’t getting rich because your greed is for others to be blessed by your generosity.
Be a greedy disciple of Jesus having nothing because you choose not to accumulate too many toys of this world, greedy instead for Christian living that is “possessing everything” (2 Corinthians 6:3-10).
Be greedy for good. For God.
PRAYER: Forgive me, generous God, when I am greedy for what is sinful. Call me to your grace once again, to the cross where—greedy for my salvation—you gave your own Son. Make me greedy for what is good. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: “Good greed” might be called passion. Read about the passion of the Apostle Paul for God’s kingdom, and what it led to, in 2 Corinthians 6:3-10.
