GIF Greed

“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. …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”.”
(Ephesians 5:3, 5 NIV)

Greed
by Chuck Bentley

Greed is the insatiable desire to have more and demand only the best for yourself.

Greed is actually idolatry, as noted by Paul in Ephesians 5:5. It also leads to destruction. “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction” (1 Timothy 6:9 NIV).

God does not prohibit us from enjoying the benefits of our own labors—after all, we are told to work and provide for our needs. But we are not to become entangled in the desire for more or the best of everything. When greed rules in our hearts, we’re no longer able to fulfill our primary purpose: to serve God.

We all have an inborn attitude of greed, always desiring more. The Lord gave direct instructions not to get caught up in this natural desire. He identified greed as the “storing up of temporal treasures.”

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20 NIV).

To overcome greed, change the goal of your efforts to store up eternal treasures. That is the only real cure for idolatry.

Daily Scripture Reading:

2 Kings 24:5-20
2 Chronicles 36:8-12
Jeremiah 22:18-30, 24, 29, 37:1-2, 52:1-3