OVERCOMING COMMON INGREDIENTS OF WEAKENED FAITH:

Greed

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Greed is good.

Greed is right.

Greed works.

Greed clarifies, cuts through and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit.

Greed in all its forms:  greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind.  (Gordon Gekko, The Movie:  Wallstreet)

 

B.   Greed has been, is, and always will be found within every civilization of man.

1.    It is found in politics.

2.    It is found in corporations.

3.    It is found in sports.

4.    It is found among the rich.

5.    It is found among the poor.

6.    It is found in churches.

7.    It is found in the lives of sinners.

8.    It is found in the lives of Christians.  (NOTE:  Even though we may deny that we are greedy, it can show up in very subtle ways in our lives).

a.    The dividing of an inheritance

b.    We root on the Robinhoods of the world

c.    We condemn the bourgeois.

d.    We seek to get on the good side of the wealthy.

e.    We long to win the lottery.

f.     We purchase many things that we do not need.

g.    We fund our wants with loads of debt.

h.    We are jealous and envious of others who have what we do not have.

i.     Our giving often does not reflect a heart of liberality.

C.   Yes, greed is our topic of discussion this morning.

1.    Our title suggests that greed can weaken faith.

2.    However, it can not only weaken faith, but it can also destroy it.

 

I.             THE DEFINITION OF GREED

 

A.   A selfish and excessive desire for more of something (such as money) than is needed.

 

B.   An insatiable desire for material gain.

 

C.   A bottomless pit of desire that can never be satisfied.

 

II.           THE DISPLAY OF GREED

 

A.   The Sellers and Moneychangers in the Temple

1.    On two different occasions, Jesus cleansed the temple.

a.    First occasion (John 2:13-17)

b.    Second occasion (Matt. 21:12-13)

2.    The purchase of animals for sacrifice was authorized by the Law of Moses (Deut. 14:24-26).

 

And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if  the place be too far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee:  then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose:  and thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever they soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth:  and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household.

 

3.    The selling of the animals was not the problem.  The problem was greed.

a.    “Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house a house of merchandise” (John 2:16).

b.    “It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Matt. 21:13).

c.    “’Avarice,” says one, “covered with the veil of religion, is one of those things on which Christ looks with the greatest indignation in his Church. Merchandize of holy things, simoniacal presentations, fraudulent exchanges, a mercenary spirit in sacred functions; ecclesiastical employments obtained by flattery, service, or attendance, or by any thing which is instead of money; collations, nominations, and elections made through any other motive than the glory of God; these are all fatal and damnable profanations, of which those in the temple were only a shadow.’ Quesnel” (quoted by Adam Clark, e-sword).

 

B.   The Rich Young Man (Matt. 19:16-22)

1.    The rich young man came to Jesus with a wonderful question:  “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” (v. 16).

2.    Jesus pointed the man to the commandments of the Law of Moses, noting several of them (vs. 18-19).

3.    “The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up:  what lack I yet?” (v. 20).

4.    “Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven:  and come and follow me” (v. 21).

5.    The greed:  “But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful:  for he had great possessions” (v. 22).

 

C.   There are many other examples that could be given.

1.    Lot

2.    Achan

3.    Gehazi

4.    Ahab

5.    Nebuchanezzar

6.    Haman

7.    Judas Iscariot

 

III.         THE DANGERS OF GREED

 

A.   Selfishness (Ex., false teachers, Rom. 16:17-18)

 

B.   Materialism (Satan knew the temptation could be strong, Matt. 4:8-9)

 

C.   Discontent (Eccl. 5:10)

 

He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase:  this is also vanity.

 

D.   Ingratitude (Rom. 1:21)

 

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

 

E.   Covetousness (Ex., the rich young man)

1.    It appears he had kept all the commands except the one that stated: “Thou shalt not covet” (Exo. 20:17).

2.    When asked to part with his goods, he could not give up the longing of his heart.

 

F.    Other gods (Col. 3:5)

 

Mortify therefore you members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

 

G.   Injustice: 

1.    Bribery, low wages 

2.    James 5:4

 

Behold the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth…

 

H.   Debt

1.    Half of American say they carry a credit card balance

2.    Average:  $6,295 per customer

3.    Proverbs 22:7b

 

…and the borrower is servant to the lender.

 

I.     Jealousy (Ex., Ahab longing for Naboth vineyard, 1 Kings 21:1-4)

 

J.    Pride (Ex., Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. 4:29, 30)

 

K.   Slothfulness (Ex., the prodigal son, he did not begin working until he had lost everything and was forced to join himself to a citizen of a strange country, Luke 15:15).

 

L.    Immorality (Ex., the prodigal son, Luke 15:13)

 

And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

 

M.  Theft:  legal and illegal, usury

1.    This was part of the problem that led to the cleansing of the temple.

2.    Nehemiah 5:7

 

I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of his brother.  And I set a great assembly against them.

 

IV.         THE DEFENSE AGAINST GREED

 

A.   Develop a deep trust in God.

1.    1 Timothy 6:17

 

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.

 

2.    Two things to trust

a.    God will take care of us

b.    The principle of giving and receiving (Prov. 3:9-10)

 

B.   Declare everything belongs to God (Ps. 24:1)

 

The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

 

C.   Defend your heart.

1.    The Bible does not say:  “Money is the root of all evil.”

2.    The Bible says:  “For the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Tim. 6:10).

3.    The defect is not in the gold, but in the heart of the man who loves it perversely.

 

D.   Die to self (Gal. 5:24).

 

And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lust.

 

E.   Determine who is going to be your master (Matt. 6:24).

 

No man can serve two masters:  for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.  Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

 

F.    Discard your love for the world (1 John 1:15).

 

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

 

G.   Discern your blessings and be content (Heb. 13:5).

 

Let your conversation be without covetousness:  and be content with such things as ye have…

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Greed is deceptive and extremely dangerous.

 

B.   It is somewhat like an insatiable sponge.

1.    It longs for its delights.

2.    However, it can never be filled.

 

C.   It affects both the rich and poor.

It affects both young and old.

It affects both men and women.

It affects both sinner and saint.

 

D.   It attempts to satiate man’s need, but…

It separates man from God.

It stains the soul.

It secures eternal condemnation.

 

E.   Mark 10:25-27

1.    The Difficulty (v. 25)

2.    The Distress (v. 26)

3.    The Divine (v. 27)

 

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God:  for with God all things are possible.