Guard Against Every Form of Greed
Guard Against Every Form of Greed
Luke 12:13-15 Jesus reminds the disciples that a person's life does not consist of their possessions
'Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?” Then He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” '
Luke 12:13-15 NASB95
Welcome to my second post of June, the month that we should start calling “Sin Month”. My post on Pride for June 1 seems to have resonated with readers, as it received almost four times the usual number of views that we usually see on Heaven On Wheels.
Of the Seven Deadly Sins (also known as capital vices or cardinal sins), pride seems to be at the heart of most sinning even when the word isn’t being used in reference to sexual immorality. Today I’m focusing on Greed, sometimes known as avarice from the Latin word avaritia.
Greed is defined as an “intense and selfish desire for something” like wealth, power, or material things. In today’s verse, Luke describes a situation in which a man asked Jesus to help him with a personal situation, wanting Jesus to tell his brother to split the family inheritance with him. Basically, this unknown person in the crowd was greedy for money and property.
Jesus responds to the man that he should be talking to an arbiter or judge, not Him! Jesus then turns to His disciples, teaching them that they should always watch for greed in all of its many forms. When we humans begin to think that our lives are defined by what we possess, we live in greed (covetousness) — worshiping a false god!
There are so many bad things that greed can inspire; hoarding of things, theft, and even robbery. People use violence, fraudulent behavior, and even misuse authority to get things they want.
Thomas Aquinas explained:
"Greed is a sin against God, just as all mortal sins, in as much as man condemns things eternal for the sake of temporal things."
Greed is another deadly form of sin that we must beware of, both in ourselves and in others.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to guard against coveting material things and envying the wicked people who seem to have it all, while there are so many of Your children who are deprived of even the most basic needs. Open my eyes to how short this earthly life is and how futile it is to live for material possessions. Instead, through Your Word teach me to live my life in spirit and truth, living for and praising Christ, in order to produce a great reward in heaven. I pray this in the name of Jesus, AMEN.