What is Greed?

Nicolas Cage one of Hollywood’s famous actors remains one of

Hollywood's highest paid actors, earning $40 million in 2009 according to Forbes
Magazine. But his spending habits have led him into a financial ruin. Cage seems
to have an addiction of possessions buying homes across the world, and this is not
your simple town home across the street. These are multi-million dollar homes. It
is bizarre of what this guy would spend. I overheard that just the up keep of his
assets would cost him $30 million annually. But the bad news is that greed will
catch up to him as it always does. Cage has property all around the world of many
of his assets are being foreclosed.

In Luke 12:15; Jesus says to listeners: “Take care, and be on your guard
against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his
possessions.” The NIV translation puts it like this, “Watch out! Be on your guard
against all kinds of greed, for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his
possessions.”

The Greek word pleonexia which translates into the English word greed or
covetousness means a greedy desire to have more. Greed can be defined as an
excessive desire especially for power and wealth. Synonyms for greed can be
indulgence, selfishness, craving, longing, and eagerness. The fact is greed is an
addiction. Just like a drug addict, greed can also be the drug. Greed is loving
possessions, money, and power.

Not only is greed about the love of money, but it can also be excessive
anxiety about it. Anxiety is the uneasiness or distress about the fear of losing
money or not having enough. Greed can be one who struggles over paying their
bills by excessively worrying about it. You don’t necessarily have to have money.
Being in debt causes greed, for many who are in debt can cause anxiety over their
bills.

Notice back in Luke 12:15 Jesus says, “a man’s life does not consist in the
abundance of his possession.” To “consist” of your possessions is to be identified
by what you consume and own. In other words, it refers to people who, if they lose
all their wealth, do not have “self” left. Their personal worth had become what

Nov. 27, 2010 DwellingWithGod.com By Jay Gheen

their financial worth had become. This is why very wealthy people when they lose
all their wealth due to stocks or share holds failing and all their personal worth was
on their financial worth. Many seek suicide or fall into depression.

Greed is idolatry, in other words it is their god. Idolaters do three things with
their idols. They love them, trust them, and obey them. “Lovers of money” are
those who find themselves fantasizing and daydreaming about new ways to make
money, new possessions to buy, and looking at people with jealousy on those who
have more than they do. “Trusters of money” think they have control of their lives
because of their wealth, in other words someone who saves just to save for security
because they want to feel safe are trusting in their money. “Servants of money,”
because they are trusters and lovers of money, ultimately become slaves of money.
Jesus in Luke 16:13-15 teaches that “No servant can serve two masters.” Here
Jesus uses “serve” as a word that means the solemn, covenantal service rendered to
a king. If you live for money you are indeed a slave.

Greed is one of the most common idols there is. Greed controls you through
your anxieties and lusts, and it makes you put it ahead of all other things. Greed
will ultimately send you to Hell. “For you may be sure of this, that everyone who
is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (greedy), has no inheritance in
the kingdom of Christ and God” (Ephesians 5:5). “Put to death therefore what is
earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness
(greed), which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming”
(Colossians 3:5-6). Only if God becomes the center of your life and you becoming
his slave will you be able to dethrone money.

Nov. 27, 2010 DwellingWithGod.com By Jay Gheen