We are now on week seven in the Messy Spirituality series, and we have covered some messes! The mess we will be looking at this week can be a tricky one. Greed. We have a mess, but it wouldn’t seem SO bad if I had what, say, Deion Sanders has. You and I both have messes, but yours just doesn’t seem that bad. It’s easy to think that we don’t have a problem; they have a problem. Author Scott Sauls said, “Greed is a universal disease. Almost everyone has it. But almost no one thinks they have it.” We can think greed is a problem, just not OUR problem. We may ask, “Aren’t we just trying to be better?” Yet there is a fine line between that and becoming greedy. Let’s take a moment to think about this statement: we are currently living someone else's dream life right now. With the home, car, house, people, and money we have. The truth is there are people who would love to have to deal with our “mess.” We will look at the Bible and what Jesus has to say about greed. We will really take a deep dive into the heart of greed. And then, we will see just how we can combat the mess of greed in our hearts. Ask the Lord to prepare your heart and allow you to take away what you need this week as we look at the mess of greed.
Monday:
We will start off by looking at the book of Luke, chapter 12. In verse 13, someone in the crowd wants Jesus to tell his brother to divide the inheritance with him. I am sure we have either experienced this ourselves or have heard lots of stories about dividing an estate and the terrible greed that is dished out. In verse 15, Jesus answers, “Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”(NLT) Greed can show up in various ways-money, possessions, time, and attention. Greed is a creeper and sneaks in cleverly disguised. With the weight our culture places on having certain kinds of things or a certain amount of things, we can very easily begin to allow greed a place in our life.
Action/Reflection:
Consider for a moment the home improvement shows (or whatever it is you are into) and how after watching a 45-minute show, we think what we have isn’t enough and if I had “that” our life would be so much better. Pastor Adam brought up a great point when he said that it’s not so much that we want the stuff but rather the feeling that the stuff brings (that we THINK the stuff brings). We imagine that those people with that stuff must have a better life. Re-read Luke 12:15 (NLT) Do you find yourself in that place right now? Being completely honest between yourself and the Lord, what area(s) are you sensing greed? Your marriage/family/possessions/job/finances/looks…..???? Take some time to really think through each area of your life and ask the Lord to help you pinpoint any greed. He loves you and wants what’s best for you, so there is no shame in bringing this to Him.
Tuesday:
It is important to note that it is not wrong to have nice things, but Jesus challenges us concerning our hearts about things. Think about greed this way; it is an “I’ll be happy when” syndrome (mess). After Jesus warned them to guard against greed, He told a parable. Let’s read Luke 12:16-21 (NLT) “And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17) He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18) “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19) And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20) “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21) “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” Jesus called this man a fool. Let’s clarify this. He was NOT calling him a fool for having stuff and being rich or for storing his wealth. We see Biblical examples of Abraham and Job being wealthy. We see Joseph was commended when he helped out through a famine by storing grain. So why did Jesus call him a fool? There were two reasons. First, the man was focused on “his stuff” and the “me, myself, and I” mentality. Secondly, he puts his hope in his stuff, thinking it will be stored and he will be secure and happy and can just sit back and “eat, drink and be merry.” 1 Timothy 6:17 (NIV) says, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” The problem? Not the wealth but the hope in their wealth. When we seek security, respect, and identity outside of God, greed sneaks its way in.
Action/Reflection:
A fool! That’s a pretty strong thing for Jesus to say. But it is the truth! Having more does not equal better, happier, or more meaningful. Like the story Pastor Adam told of the 15-year-old girl that visited her counselor and had cut the word “EMPTY” on her arm, are you feeling empty? Read 1 Timothy 6:9-10 (NIV), “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Is Paul saying here if we aren’t careful, our stuff, our wanting more from a place of greed, can pierce us with grief? Again, the problem is NOT with stuff, it’s the love of the stuff and our heart. Are you finding yourself pierced with griefs? Take some time to reflect on your life. Re-read the Scriptures and ask the Lord to reveal what He wants you to know.
Wednesday:
So if we are facing the mess of greed because we have this need for more but seeking it with the wrong heart, let’s take a look at this from a bit of a different angle. When Oz Guinness (yes, the heir of the Guinness Beer Company, who is a Christian pastor and author) spoke to a group in Silicon Valley, he said that every one of the tech bazillionaires he was speaking to had the same questions that could be summed by this: Having too much to live with and too little to live for. They are realizing that having more does not equal content. Pastor Adam presented us with something to really consider.
True happiness=a sense of identity or who I am.
A sense of identity=purpose of life.
A sense of security=I am going to be ok.
These things can only come from knowing God loves you(=identity). Knowing God has a purpose for you(=destiny). And knowing He sent Jesus for you and fills you with His Spirit(=security).
Action/Reflection:
Take some time to consider what greed offers vs. what God offers. Do you believe that God loves you? Do you believe He has a purpose for you? Do you believe that He sent Jesus and filled you with the Holy Spirit? Ask the Lord to help you go through each of these questions, journal, pray, ask Him to help you in any area He may reveal to you.
Thursday:
So, after taking some time to reflect on the mess of greed, what do we do now? Where do we go from here? Well, Pastor Adam talked about how we can combat greed in our lives. He called them “Anti-greed Habits.” Let’s look at the first one he mentioned; Practice Gratitude. To clarify, not just a haphazard thanks every now and then. Rather practicing gratitude and making a daily habit or rhythm in your life. The practice of daily gratitude amazingly produces contentment. 1 Timothy 6:17 (NIV) says, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” God is the best provider. He knows everything we need. And He wants you to enjoy all you have. It’s so easy to miss out on the joy of what we have (and not just stuff) if we are always wanting more or different or “better.” When gratitude is a daily habit, we learn to richly enjoy what we have.
Action/Reflection:
Let’s consider this question: What is right in front of you that you have neglected to be thankful for? 1 Timothy 6:6 (NIV) is powerful! “But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7) For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” And also, read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV) “Rejoice always, 17) pray continually, 18) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Approach God with a thankful heart. Ask God to help you be content where you are. Start and keep a list of what/who you are thankful for. A thankful heart is one way to combat greed.
Friday: The second “Anti-greed habit” we’ll look at is this, Practice Generosity. Let’s read 1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NIV) Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19) In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” Let us not confuse our generosity in relation to what’s in (or not in) our bank account. God knows and sees each of us and where we are at. All that we have is a gift from Him (time, talent, treasure), and we should be generous from that standpoint. If it isn’t in your ability to give huge amounts of money, it could be that it is generous for you to give all your coins in the coin jar in your closet to meet a need. And that will be counted as a truly generous act. And it’s not just about money, maybe being generous with your time or the gifts God has put within you. Generosity flows from our gratitude. They are linked. When we are grateful for what God has done and how He has provided for us, being generous to others is an absolute joy!
Action/Reflection:
What is your view or definition of generosity? Have you been the recipient of someone else’s generosity? What stands out to you the most? The amount or the size of the thing they gave you or the heart and what it meant to you? That is the generous part. It does take being intentional to be generous. And it also takes being grateful to be generous. Take some time to reflect on times someone was generous to you. Then take some time to seek God and see if He is asking you to be generous to someone else. Think beyond just money. Do you need to forgive? Do you need to give a hurting friend a call? Where do you feel the mess of greed the most? Ask God to help free you in this area and take a step of generosity today.
Saturday:
In the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew, Jesus definitely talks about both generosity and greed. And then there are these seemingly out-of-place verses: Matthew 6:22-23 (NIV) “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23) But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” The Greek word for healthy used here means generous. So unhealthy would be greedy. Living a life of greed is a mess and so very unhealthy. But walking in the light and having generosity is so freeing and so healthy. God’s economy is exactly the opposite of the world’s. Wanting more (stuff) leaves us empty; wanting Jesus fills us up! Romans 15:13 (NIV) “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Action/Reflection:
We can be free from the mess of greed. Our eyes can be healthy (generous) or unhealthy (full of greed). This is a choice. We can be empty, or we can be full. What do you need to let go of in order to embrace a grateful and generous life and leave greed behind? Jesus is right here with you to help you every step of the way.