“Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15)Are you a member of the Gimme Gimme Club?
It's been reported that Club attendance has tapered since the recent pork barrel scandals. Members have now become careful show-offs, even controlling the urge to upload their party and bling images on Façebook.
Having experienced a burst of conscience—something they've not used for some time, they've now moderated their public display of opulence. Baka madamay, kahiya-hiya naman! They too might be shamed if they're too obvious.
Seriously, how does the gimme gimme lifestyle take root?
My Marketing class students dissect how a simple need—like food, security and safety—turns to wants, then demands. The higher a person rises because of either power or gold amassed, the more insatiable his desire to possess grander blings, jets and mansions included.
That's human nature. Feed need unnecesarily; greed grows exponentially. Greed is need with a great ego.
So it's best to nip greed in the bud. "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
Jesus says in Mark 10:23, "How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!"
Why these stern words? Because possessions boost your self-importance which in itself is idolaltry! ?t doesn't take long to totally shun your Provider when your unlimited lust for blings and influence has set shop in your heart.
Pretty soon, you believe Satan's slogan that the more you have, the happier and more esteemed you'll be—even by the rich, famous and influential.
It helps of course that mass media and advertisers have conspired to condition us to aspire for the jet-setters' lifestyle. Our local papers glorify this so-called partyphile crowd in their pages.
And being gorged up with riches is intoxicating, even addicting. The more you have, the more power you possess—the better for you to dispense and demand favor, and practically buy people, even manipulate them to suit your agenda.
The rich young ruler (Matthew 19) struggled to follow Jesus even if he wanted to. When His disciples asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus assured, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Had this young man remained with our Lord, he could have discovered that Jesus was all he needed. Jesus is enough to fill even our greatest desires. Trusting Him is just the beginning.
"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" (Matthew 6:25)
Proverbs 15:16: "Better is a little fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble with it."
Jesus offers the better deal—real riches. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)
Money? That's just a fraction of the Jesus Believers' benefits. Now ask Him what more and how.
Originally published at: http://cbnasia.org/home/2013/09/the-anatomy-of-greed/
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