After that ugliness get's out, then real love can sprout (up and out) and will show us the better route.
“Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!” Proverbs 21:26 nlt
Greed will cause pain. ~ Taiwanese Proverbs
Invite Jesus in and ask Him to pull it out!
An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end. Proverbs 20:21
Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. Proverbs 13:11What will it take to satisfy you? What really will....really?
“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.” Proverbs 11:24
“What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion.” Jude 1:11
A priest with the so called Roman church, who had heard people confess every imaginable sin and crime, including murder and adultery, said that he had never heard anyone admit to being covetous (when the Bible is taught book by book, verse by verse the people know what that sin is). He'd never heard coveting confessed but it actually made its way into God’s Top Ten—The Ten Commandments. God put it there and He wants you free from this! Admit it and quit it, simple. We confess first to God for He's the only One who forgives sin.
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Greed ain't the need. How to stop being greedy and selfish: 1. Many Have Suffered, but let go of that Scarcity Mindset. Turn To Jesus And Ask Him To Uproot the Ugly Weeds Of Greed and Selfishness. He'll Fill You Up With His Holy Spirit -- It's What He Does From The Get Go 2. Build the "God is way More than Enough Mentality" In Your Mind Cuz It's True (He really loves you, lacks zip, and has no needs at all. Give All Of You To Jesus) 3. Stop Comparing Yourself, Stop Competing With Rich People. Instead Pray for Them by Name. 4. Practice Generosity Even in a Healthy Church. Pray and Have a Compassionate Generous Spirit and Heart 5. Develop a Gratitude Attitude. Say Thanks Often and Mean it. Tell God and Others how You Appreciate them. 6. Remember No Human Really Cares About Your Bank Balance or Other Investments, But The Lord Cares About You. 7. Stop Sowing To Your Old Fleshly Nature, Cease Feeding Greed and Selfishness 8. Recognize the Root of Your Fears and Selfishness. The Love Of Money is the Root of All Evil 9. Taste the Joy of Walking Close With Christ and Being Used of Him to Bless Others (Globally People need to Hear and Grasp Hold of the Gospel) 10. Live the Purpose of Passionate Worship (To One) And Of Clearly Expressing Love Both Upwards and Outwards (Towards all People) 11. Realize the Most Impact in Life Is That of Giving Away As The Spirit Leads (It's "Better To Give Than To Receive." And First of: Yourself Away to The Father, To The Son, and To The Holy Spirit) 12. Remember Those Who’ve Loved And Helped You, Believer (God Did That First While You Were Still His Enemy) 13. Remind Yourself of Those Who Didn’t Help You When They Could Have, And Why They Didn't (Fully Forgive Em And Pray For Them) 14. Visualize Your Loved Ones Who Need God's Help, Who Perhaps Need Practical Help From God's People 15. Remember You Came In With Nothing and You'll Die With Nothing (Even if the Rapture Happens First, Yet Saints Are Privileged To Hold On To Jesus Through It All. He's Always Enough) 16. Earnestly Seek God for His Compassion, Grace, Empathy and Agape for Other People. We Really Don't Know Much Of Their Battles But God Does 17. The Purpose of Having or Receiving Much Is To Enjoy God's Blessings, And To Give More As The Spirit Leads Each One Of Us (and Sometimes That Involves Monetary. We Want His Message and Kingdom To Advance) 18. Remember Believer, No Possession You Own Is Yours. It's On Loan. Ask God, What And How Can I Use What Is Today In My Hands.. To Bless With And Also To Bring You Glory 19. Focus On Jesus Most, Then On The Potential Righteous Impact for Many Other People (Our Time Here To Reap A Harvest And Be Used Of God To Disciple Others Is Short) 20. Redefine Your Worth (As The World Estimates). It's Not At All Defined By What You've Earned Or Gained (The World Daily Wants To Define You By Your Amount Of Perishable Toys and Stuff). You Already Have Huge Worth To God Who Made You In His Own Image 21. View Money, Assets And All Investments Only As Temporary Tools For God's Kingdom-Expansion. You Are Here To Praise and All-Out-Worship The King Of kings and To Win, Edify, Encourage, and Minister to People In Need Abraham Was Blessed to Be a Blessing, And You Are Too, Believer. The blessings that God gives to each of us are intended to be enjoyed and possibly to be shared as He lead you to. Pray and go back often to ask for the details on what He would have you do. ".. but the one who did not know it and did things worthy of a beating, will receive only a few [lashes]. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." Luke 12:48 amp "For the love of money is the first step toward all kinds of sin. Some people have even turned away from God because of their love for it, and as a result have pierced themselves with many sorrows." 1 Timothy 6:10 tlb |
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| Photo by Glodi Miessi |
Do you remember the story of Balaam? He was a whack-prophet who was greedy for gold? Felt he had to have it! And he was hired by the Moabites to bring a curse upon Israel, but we are to love Israel and to pray for them.
And as Balaam was preparing to go carry out his stupid assignment, God addressed him. Yes, God spoke to him and said, “You shall not go with them; you shall not curse the people, for they are blessed” Numbers 22:12
So did Balaam take heed to God’s words? No, he ultimately ignored God’s command. Then as he was making his way in disobedience to God, the donkey he was riding refused to go any further. So he began to beat the poor donkey. And when the two reached an impasse, God opened the donkey’s mouth, who turned and said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden, ever since I became yours, to this day? Was I ever disposed to do this to you?”
The animal had more sense than her master did. The Lord opened Balaam’s eyes spiritually, and standing in front of his donkey was an angel with his sword drawn. The angel essentially said, “It is a good thing for you that your donkey stopped. You were about to be killed.”
What was it that made this man so very lame spiritually? It was greed that kept Balaam out of harmony with God and His agape love, and selfish greed can do the same with us any day of the week. We can become so selfishly focused on material things that they become more important to us than anything else.
If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
What does the Bible say about greed?
What are some verses that address greed?
Why is the love of money the root of all kinds of evil?
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. James 4:3
Remember a number of years ago, when U2 released an album called “All That You Can’t Leave Behind.” Well, the fact is that when our lives come to an end, we’ll leave everything behind.
Please don’t let anything or anyone keep you out of harmony with the love of God. Never let selfishness or greed take you downwards.
“These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires. These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit." ” See Jude 1:14-21 #emph.mine
"But these men mock and curse at anything they do not understand, and like animals, they do whatever they feel like, thereby ruining their souls. Woe upon them! For they follow the example of Cain who killed his brother; and like Balaam, they will do anything for money; and like Korah, they have disobeyed God and will die under his curse. When these men join you at the love feasts of the church, they are evil smears among you, laughing and carrying on, gorging and stuffing themselves without a thought for others. They are like clouds blowing over dry land without giving rain, promising much, but producing nothing. They are like fruit trees without any fruit at picking time. They are not only dead, but doubly dead, for they have been pulled out, roots and all, to be burned. All they leave behind them is shame and disgrace like the dirty foam left along the beach by the wild waves." Jude 1-10-13 tlb
You’ve probably heard of Trivial Pursuit, the board game right? Well “trivial pursuit” would be a really good description of how a lot of people spend their lives today. They selfishly expend all their energies in the pursuit of things that are, in the end, really trivial. But the end, all that will be left is that which is eternal.
One day our lives on this earth will end, and the question will be this: How have we spent our existence? Will it have been on pursuing trivial things? Or, will we have laid up for ourselves treasures in Heaven?
That is what Jesus addressed when someone said to him, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me” (Luke 12:13 nlt). Man, talk about saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. Jesus had been dealing with a very serious issue. He had just cast a demon out of a person, but the religious leaders alleged that Jesus actually had done this by the power of Satan. This caused Jesus to issue a very stern warning.
While all this was happening, a man apparently made his way up through the crowd, to the front, and blurted out his off-the-wall demand. Jesus used this as a springboard to talk about what the man’s real problem was. Jesus, being God, could look directly into his heart and clearly see this man’s greed. He was full of covetousness.
Jesus told him, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that? ..Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own” Luke 12:14–15 nlt
Essentially Jesus was saying, “Who put me in charge of your problems? I’m not here to settle these petty disputes. You’re missing the big picture. In fact, when I look into your heart, I see what is really motivating you anyway. It’s greed.”
Jesus wasn’t interested in being Judge and jury or in acting like Judge Judy even that day. He had other things to do, a more important mission to accomplish. Jesus used this occasion as an opportunity to talk to his listeners about what really counts, what ultimately matters in life. Do you have a relationship with God, do you have right relationships with people? You can. Jesus told them all a story about a rich man who had seriously misplaced priorities.
There are commendable things about this man. There was nothing wrong with the fact that he was so successful in this world by their estimation, nor in farming (we all need food God provides via the farmers who produce it via their hard work and trust..), or that he had a bumper crop and needed bigger barns to house his harvest. The problem was that he gave no thought to God.
Jesus didn’t say the rich man did things through deceit or treachery or by taking advantage of others. The problem was that within his success, he didn’t think of God or of the needs of others at all.
It’s understandable when children don’t really plan for the future. But when people get older like into their 30s, 40s, 50s 60s and certainly beyond that, it’s so foolish if they don’t plan for what’s ahead.
So many people will take out every insurance policy available – life insurance, medical insurance, fire insurance, and so forth – but they won’t give a single thought to their own eternal insurance and whether their lives are right with God via His Son Jesus.
The man in Jesus’ story went out and made money. But those possessions were beginning to possess him. Has that ever happened to you? They were becoming more and more important to him than anything or anyone else. Even more than God meant to Him. He was allowing greed and covetousness to ruin his life.
When John D. Rockefeller was the richest man in the world, someone reportedly asked him, “How much is enough?”
He replied, “Just a little bit more.”
Do you personally need a little bit more to make it, or a lot more (some people do need more practical things to help them survive), or do you just feel like you need more and really need a satisfying relationship with God?
That’s the perfect definition of someone who is filled with greed. In fact, the Bible portrays greed as a dividing line between righteous and evil people: “Some people are always greedy for more, but the godly love to give!” Proverbs 21:26 nlt
After pretty much having all this world could offer, King Solomon wisely concluded, “Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!” Ecclesiastes 5:10 nlt
This is why the apostle Paul warned, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows” 1 Timothy 6:10 nlt
This verse is often misquoted to say, “Money is the root of all evil.” No, the Bible says no such thing. Rather, it says the love of money is the root of all evil. It comes down to our attitudes.
Understand what the Bible is saying. It is not a sin to be successful in business or to make a good living. However, when we become obsessed with it, when we are willing to do whatever it takes to get there, when we find ourselves bending every effort to grasp it, when it becomes the most important thing in life, then that pursuit has taken the place of God in our lives.
The Bible warns that covetousness is idolatry. That greedy desire to have more actually can become a god in our lives and choke out spiritual growth.
Jesus was not condemning the practice of saving or preparing for the future. Nor was he condemning this man for providing for his family, assuming that he had one. This man’s problem was that he didn’t think about his spiritual future, and he didn’t rise to the responsibilities wealth can bring.
A good reason for tithes and offerings? As we obey God He helps us keep greed in check--away from our hearts. Everything we have in life has been given to us by God, including the breath we draw in our lungs. Has He yet freely given you His forgiveness and eternal life? Have you turned and trusted in Christ to wash you clean from sin. We’ve all blown in at different times. “For all have sinned and fallen short..” Ask, he will bless you today. Don’t put it off.
Jesus said, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” Matthew 6:33 nlt
God will take care of us if we simply come to Him and keep our priorities right. And what should our priorities be? Yes, Christ should be first as Lord of all in everything.
A greedy man is always poor.~ Iranian Proverbs
Greed lessens what is gathered. ~ Arabian Proverbs
A greedy person and a pauper are practically one and the same. ~ Swiss Proverbs
A greedy father has thieves for children.~ Serbian Proverbs
A relationship with Christ satisfies.
