More of Christ

Greed is one of the many vices (aka sins) that advertisers and other charlatans have put through the topsy-turvy fun house mirror of re-branding. Cue the modern philosophers (or economists) waxing euphoric about self-interest fueling the economy or some such rubbish.

It may seem absurdly obvious, but given the rarity with which I hear it, I will be so bold as to say: inviting vice and eschewing virtue does not tend to go well for people. I might even go so far as to suggest that vice grates against how people are designed. Here are a few reasons why:

Christ tells us not to worry about what to wear or where our next meal is coming from but instead to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Mt. 6:33). All that we have comes from God. We are entirely dependent upon His provision. He knows what we need. And, as Christians and ministers of the Gospel, He has us exactly where we are supposed to be at any given time. Let God be the driving force of your ambition and the desire of your heart.

We are called to love the Lord with all of our heart, soul, and might. We are to have no other Gods before Him. In Colossians 3:5, Paul calls covetousness idolatry! Greed means there is something else in the place in our hearts and minds where God ought to be, and we devalue what God has seen fit to provide.

We are called to love our neighbors. Grasping, hoarding, and competing are selfish, not loving, behaviors.

As is often the case with sins, greed is a perversion of a virtuous impulse. We have in our sinful hearts an endless impulse for gain. When we turn that impulse to a desire for God, we have applied the impulse in the way we were created to! There is a right form of longing, a right desire to store up for ourselves, and that is to store up treasure in Heaven.

The apostle Paul gives this encouragement:

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Phil. 4:12-13).

Christian, I encourage you to use every circumstance to indulge your longing for more of Christ, for a closer relationship and a deeper understanding of God. He will never fail you, and nothing else will ever satisfy.