March 10 - Greed

Proverbs 19:21

21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

We are a greedy culture. I am the worst. My thoughts, especially as of late, have gone to ways to make more money or become a millionaire and retire early. Ask my wife and she will tell you I come up with random ideas (some good, most bad) in which I can make more money. There's a problem with this though...actually there's a lot wrong with this.

We have a mentality that we are hopeless and helpless without money in our pocket or our bank account. The truth about it is, God provides for His people. I have a job and I feel that God is using me as a teacher to 1) better my character 2) be his hands and feet in my school and 3) reach other's with his love. I have been blessed with a job that pays our mortgage, car payment, insurance, etc. God is taking care of me in so many ways, as well as my wife. What am I telling God by placing so much time and energy into thinking up new "money making" ideas?

I am telling God that what He has given me is not enough.

If I break that down beyond the dollar signs and decimal points floating in my mind, I'll be sure to find myself in a lowly state of humility. How could I tell God that what He has given me isn't enough?! That's outrageous. Yes, God has blessed me with a great wife, a house, a fully functional car, a loving family, a healthy body, but above all, God has blessed me by sending His son Christ Jesus to save me from this very greed.

The world will sink it's teeth into us if we let it. Watch TV enough and you'll find infomercials that make you think, "what could I invent to make some cash?" or "that looks really cool, as do the people using it...I think I want one".  The things of this world will fade faster than we know when our time here is up. Yes, we can provide for our families as we pass, but should our time, efforts, energy, and talents be used simply to make more and more money? At what point does money become more valuable than a strong prayer life?

"There is no price on salvation. It is completely free". There's our sales pitch.
Our paycheck is the glory we bring to God for the blessings he has already bestowed on us.

Colossians 3:5

5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry...

Being a Christian is not and easy  job  privilege.