“Don’t be greedy for the . . things of this life.” Colossians 3:5 NKJV
“You are not what you have; you are so much more than that.”
My thoughts today are about “having it now.”
My grandfather always and only drove Oldsmobiles, a General Motors product. A few years ago, in a marketing attempt to lure a new and younger buyer they advertised, “This is not your grandfather’s Oldsmobile!” And they were right; it was not – different, not better.
Well today, this is not “your grandfather’s culture.” The culture of my youth was taught things like: an honest wage for a day’s work, cash not credit, saving for the future, living modestly within your means, and being a good neighbor. Today’s culture and its mindset will entice you in the most subtle way to want more than you can afford, to have more than you need, and to want everything your neighbor has, but more. Those are dangerous in their subtlety, and in their application.
Things can become a little too important, and an inaccurate measure of one’s own importance. You are not what you have; you are so much more than that. How has this change come about? There is a false philosophy that started in the Garden of Eden that you can have it all, and you can have it now! Read Genesis 3. That was exactly what the devil used to tempt Eve. She had it all, except for one small thing. Somehow, she was lured to believe that without that God was withholding something from her that she could get on her own. Well, you know how the story goes from there.
Too many people have bankrupted themselves trying to have it all now, and at an even higher price have bankrupted their souls in the process. You were never intended to have it all, and it is not possible to have it all now. Listen to what Jesus advised, “Don’t be greedy for what you don’t have. Real life is not measured by how much you own.” Luke 12:15 NLT. Following His counsel will spare you a lot of needless grief and worry. Meanwhile, be content and faithful with what you have. “Whoever can be trusted with very little things can also be trusted with much.” Luke 16:10-12 NIV.
The problem is not the things that you have or want. The problem is your wanting things before God provides them and acquiring them without regard to cost, now or later. Best to live with this conviction born of God’s Word, “God . . will supply all your needs from His own glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 NLT.
Greed is an inordinate, and unholy, insistence of having more than God has yet provided, and attempting to gain those things however you can, as quickly as you can. That never works out the way you hoped. See Matthew 6:32-33 NLT/1 John 2:15-17 NIV.
My prayer for you today is: be grateful to God for what you have and trust Him for all you need.