On my dresser in our bedroom I have a flip calendar that includes thoughts from Max Lucado’s book entitled “Grace for the Moment”. One of the meditations from this week really caused me to stop and examine the intent of my heart. Let me share it with you.
The Scripture from the day is taken from Luke 12: 15 and it says, “Life is not measured by how much one owns.” The thought from Rev. Lucado is this: “Jesus had a definition for greed. He called it the practice of measuring life by possessions. Greed equates a person’s worth with a person’s purse….The consequence of such a philosophy is predictable. If you are the sum of what you own, then by all means own it all. No price is too high. No payment is too much….Greed is not defined by what something costs; it is measured by what it costs you. If anything costs you your faith or your family, the price is too high.”
As I reflected on those thoughts I began to examine where in my life greed might be taking hold. Is greed the motivation for the clothes I buy or the car I drive? Do I feel like I have to dress nicer than this person or drive a nicer car than that person? Could greed by the motivation for the relationships I build? Is there someone with whom I have established a friendship only for what I can gain from that friendship? Perhaps greed is the motivation for the ministry work I do. Do I desire my own recognition more than I desire the name of the Lord being lifted up? Am I serving in my church only to be noticed and recognized?
Is greed for status, comfort or recognition preventing us from spending time with our family or the Lord? Although most of us must work at a job that provides income, do we spend more time than is necessary at work rather than spending time with our family? Does the tennis court or golf course quicken your heart more than Sunday morning worship of God with fellow believers? Do you skip intimate time with the Lord each morning because of the desire to sleep just a little bit longer? As you can see, there are many areas where greed can take hold of us and they do not all deal with our money.
One of the areas where greed can overtake a Christian is in the area of tithing. Until we learn and truly believe that everything, EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING belongs to God, we will never be able to tithe with joy. Everything that we have is on loan to us from God. Beth Moore said it very well this week in her blog. ‘He owns the place. For “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Psalm 24:1. He not only owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He owns the thousand hills under the tails of the cattle.’
When we can get that truth down deep into the marrow of our bones, withholding the tithe from the Lord becomes the ultimate in greed. Nothing truly belongs to me, so how could I have the audacity to try to keep it from the One who owns it. That is robbery!! God only asks for ten percent, allowing me to be the steward of the other ninety percent. That is a pretty darned good deal if you ask me.
So, in what area of your life is greed taking hold? Ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart, show you where there is greed and help you turn from it. God will shower you with untold blessing as a result of doing away with greed in your life.
