Why Is There So
Much Greed?
Look
here, you rich people: Weep and groan
with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth is
rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. Your gold and silver
are corroded. The very wealth you were
counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This corroded treasure you have hoarded will
testify against you on the day of judgment. For listen! Hear
the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The cries of those who harvest your fields
have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every
desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. You have condemned
and killed innocent people, who do not resist you. James
5:1-6 (NLT)
The Message NT translates that last phrase a
fatter than usual corpse. It’s James’
way of describing the not-so-wonderful transformation that can happen to you,
when your preoccupation in life is on material things.
Two businessmen, vacationing at Miami Beach, were
comparing notes. I’m here on insurance money, one said. I
collected $500,000 for fire damage. Me too, the other replied. But I
got $1,000,000 for flood damage.
After a long pause, the first man asked, Tell me, how do you start a flood?[2]
Let’s remember the distinction here about money, or
things. Money has no spiritual
characteristics, no morality; there is nothing intrinsically negative or
positive about money.
James is not saying it is a sin to be rich. That’s just a matter of how much money you
have. Rather, James wants us to see that
the potential for spiritual problems is the relationship or attitude
one bears towards money – his own, or that which his neighbor possesses
(and he wants).
That is what gives money its power to become a
god. In Paul’s first letter to Timothy the
apostle said:
…the love of money is the root of all
evil: 1 Ti 6.10a
The love of money – materialism; when
things become gods.
Let’s take a look at what you become,
when things become your gods.
1.You Become an Idolater
Jesus told the story of a rich fool (Luke 12). The man had so much his harvest was many
times larger than his barns. He decided
to hoard it all; he would build bigger barns.
That night he died – and he kept nothing. He was a fool.
We have that mentality in our culture today. Get it, spend it on yourself, or hold onto it
for dear life.
Friend, it doesn’t matter if you’re a spendthrift,
always in debt, wondering how you will pay this month’s light bill, or if
you’re filthy rich and enjoying every luxury.
Or if you’re a skinflint, pinching every penny, stuffing 401K’s under
12 different assumed identities.
The problem with spending or hoarding is the sickness
of selfishness; it is self-idolatry.
You tell God with your actions that generosity,
willing to give to my neighbor in need, is wrong, while getting for
me, and holding on to what I get is right.
It is a form of idolatrous gluttony. Things become gods. Greed makes you an idolater.
2.You Become an Oppressor
If you’re successful enough to control a lot of money,
you can then control people with it.
Jesus told another story – a rich man/poor man story found in Luke’s
gospel; it’s about Lazarus (a poor beggar) and Dives (an important and wealthy
businessman (Luke 16).
Lazarus was the poor beggar, sitting at the Dives’ doorstep. He got scraps for his living.
In some way the rich man was responsible for the poor
man. We know that because when they both
died, the rich man went to hell – and Jesus tied the fact that the rich man wound
up in hell to the way he lived his life in relationship to the poor man. It is the same as Cain and Abel. God told Cain that the blood of his brother
Abel called out from the ground to convict Cain for his actions.
In our day we also have excuses. I can’t feed everyone; the government should
do it; God helps those who help themselves; et al.
In our country we should be ashamed to use such excuses. The poorest of us have ten times more than
half the world’s population. Most
Americans have a hundred times more than 90% of the world’s people.
Oppression is when you have – and others do not – and
you won’t even try to help. It means the
possessions you have possess you! Things
have become gods, and with the power you have because of your wealth you ignore
the impulse to help the poor. Idolater,
Oppressor, and…
3.You Become an Outsider
The Kingdom of God is populated with people who
voluntarily place themselves near the King.
It means we love what the King loves, do what the King wants – we love
the King.
The fact is that God is not materially minded. He spoke the universe into existence – along
with the cattle on a thousand hills. All
of that means little to Him – he simply did it to display His sovereignty and
His glory.
Our correct response as His created beings is to
worship the Creator, and enjoy what He has given us.
When we begin to worship our stuff, our nature
changes.
We place ourselves outside of the Kingdom.
Outside the kingdom?
This is what it means to be an outsider:
Blessed
are those who wash their robes so they can enter through the gates of the city
and eat the fruit from the tree of life. Outside the
city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol
worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.
Revelation 22.14-15 NLT
What should be the cure?
How do you begin to address the materialistic
tendencies we have?
The Medicine for Materialism
James is really specific. He tells us what to do.
#1.
If you’re poor, have Patience
Jesus is the Master Gardener, and he knows when the
time will be ripe to settle everything.
We are not to grow impatient with the way He handles
things. Simply be faithful with whatever
He places in your hand; after all, if He owns it all, He can decide where it
goes.
#2.
If you’re well-blessed, be Generous
If God has placed material resources in your hand, a
lot or a little, the faithful response is what, Lord?
What shall I do with this to be your faithful child?
This is a good reminder – things are NOT
gods.
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