Christians confronting greed. This seems so obvious, why mention it at all?
How many times have we seen multi-billionaires on TV still chasing the almighty dollar and wondered when will they ever have enough? It sickens us to see the greed; the private jets, helicopters and yachts that cost tens or even hundreds of millions. Or the $20,000 pair of shoes that celebrity bought – to match her $40,000 handbag, of course.
But let’s scale that back a bit. At heart, all we are witnessing is people living according to their means. In fact, they’re probably living a little beyond their means because that is human nature. It seems obscene to us that they spend so much money – but they only do it because they have so much money to spend. The truth is they are no different to all the hard-working folk who earn a few thousand a month and then spend every penny of it plus a little extra on the credit card.
This is one of the first things the financial gurus teach us regarding Financial Freedom. In order to grow your wealth, you first need to learn to live beneath your means. Spend less than you earn by confronting greed, they say. For every $10.00 that goes into your bank account, make sure $1.00 never comes out.
This is not your tithe and it’s not your mortgage. It’s not for your kids’ college fund or your pension contribution. It is your savings; the seed from which you will grow your wealth. Sound financial advice. But does it line up with scripture? I believe it does.
Confronting Greed
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
1 Timothy 6:6-8
Godliness with contentment is simply the ability to live a Godly life and be content with what he has blessed me rather than striving for what I can’t quite afford at present. It also just so happens to be the best foundation from which to start building wealth.
This is one of sin’s great ironies. The love of money promises happiness and fulfillment. If I only had a little more money I could buy that dream car and then I will be happy. So I work and save and apply for another credit card. And when finally I buy the dream car, I meet a friend who has a better one. Or someone who has just got back from their dream overseas vacation. And now I want that too.
Instead of confronting greed, the cycle begins again. Always striving, never satisfied and, worse, drowning in debt so that I am forced to work ten hours a day just to get that promotion. Which I now need more than ever to pay for all the stuff I’ve bought.
If you’re anything like me, you may value memories more than things – so much more noble, don’t you agree? So instead of golf clubs, cars and yachts, we squander our earnings on expensive restaurants and overseas holidays that we can barely afford but, hey, that’s what credit cards are for, right?
It’s all materialism at heart and at its root is – the love of money!
When we suppress the love of money and root it out of our lives, by confronting greed, we discover godliness with contentment and suddenly none of that stuff matters any more. This is empowering and – here is the irony – it actually starts us on the road to creating true wealth!