greed. previously on 7 sins we have looked at 6 sins: pride = wanting to be like god, or to be god....

Previously on 7 Previously on 7 SinsSins

We have looked at 6 sins:We have looked at 6 sins:

PridePride= wanting to be like God, or to be = wanting to be like God, or to be God. God.

EnvyEnvy = wanting the other person not to = wanting the other person not to have what I don’t have.have what I don’t have.

GluttonyGluttony = wanting to feed the soul with the = wanting to feed the soul with the

body’s food.body’s food.

Previously on 7 Previously on 7 SinsSins

We have looked at 6 sins:We have looked at 6 sins:

AngerAnger= rage and resentment. = rage and resentment.

Lust Lust = = thinking other people are objects

for our sexual satisfaction

SlothSloth = keeping yourself on the bench of = keeping yourself on the bench of

the game, rather than partnering the game, rather than partnering with God.with God.

GreedGreed

Scripture ReadingScripture Reading

Luke 12:13-21Luke 12:13-21

GreedGreed

Story of Banker and his BMWStory of Banker and his BMW

Rick Ezell, Rick Ezell, The 7 Sins of Highly Defective People, p.87-88, p.87-88

GreedGreed

Greed=- “an inordinate desire for more, an

excessive, unsatisfied hunger to possess.” Rick Ezell, Rick Ezell, The 7 Sins of Highly Defective People, ,

p.87-88p.87-88

- Greek [pleonexia]: “the thirst for having more.”

GreedGreed

Greed is like drinking salt water Greed is like drinking salt water to quench a thirst.to quench a thirst.

It makes you more thirsty.It makes you more thirsty.

You drink more and more You drink more and more without quenching your thirst.without quenching your thirst.

Then you die.Then you die.

GreedGreed

Examples of Greed:Examples of Greed:

Edmund in C.S. Lewis’ Edmund in C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobethe Witch and the WardrobeGollum in Lord of the RingsGehazi in II Kings 5:20-27

GreedGreed

Examples of Greed:Examples of Greed:

Cutting up the pie at homeCutting up the pie at homeWhen a family divides up the parent’s belongings after they

have died.

GreedGreed

The fallacy of Greed:The fallacy of Greed:

““You are what you own.”You are what you own.”

““You will be happy having more You will be happy having more stuff.”stuff.”

GreedGreed

Jesus said:Jesus said:

"Watch out! Be on your guard "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's against all kinds of greed; a man's

life does not consist in the life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."abundance of his possessions."

Luke 12:15Luke 12:15

GreedGreed

The parable of the greedy foolThe parable of the greedy fool

Not a bad guyNot a bad guy

Didn’t cheat anyoneDidn’t cheat anyone

Focus on himself [8 “I”s; 4 Focus on himself [8 “I”s; 4 “my”s]“my”s]

GreedGreed

17He thought to himself, 'What shall I 17He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my do? I have no place to store my crops.' crops.'

18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. 18"Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I'll say my grain and my goods. 19And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of good to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." life easy; eat, drink and be merry."

GreedGreed

God calls him a fool because:God calls him a fool because:- He does not realize his time is He does not realize his time is

limitedlimited- He thinks that God blessings are He thinks that God blessings are

for his own enjoyment onlyfor his own enjoyment only- No where does the man thank No where does the man thank

GodGod- No where does he seek to help No where does he seek to help

othersothers

Overcoming Overcoming GreedGreed

The remedy for greed is not to sit The remedy for greed is not to sit back and let things just happen.back and let things just happen.

Then we would be back to the sin of Then we would be back to the sin of sloth.sloth.

Remember Proverbs 6:6-11Remember Proverbs 6:6-11


6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; 6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! consider its ways and be wise!

7 It has no commander, 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, no overseer or ruler,

8 yet it stores its provisions in summer 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. and gathers its food at harvest.

9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? 9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? When will you get up from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber, 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- a little folding of the hands to rest-

11 and poverty will come on you like a bandit 11 and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. and scarcity like an armed man.


We find the answer to overcoming We find the answer to overcoming greed in Jesus’ words:greed in Jesus’ words:

Luke 12:21Luke 12:21

"This is how it will be with anyone "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself who stores up things for himself

but is not rich toward God."but is not rich toward God."


Paul helps us understand Paul helps us understand

how we can be rich toward God how we can be rich toward God

in I Timothy 6:17-19:in I Timothy 6:17-19:


17Command those who are rich in this 17Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to present world not to be arrogant nor to

put their hope in wealth, which is so put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Command them for our enjoyment. 18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to do good, to be rich in good deeds,

and to be generous and willing to and to be generous and willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up share. 19In this way they will lay up

treasure for themselves as a firm treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is they may take hold of the life that is

truly life.” truly life.” I Timothy 6:17-19I Timothy 6:17-19


““Command those who are rich in this present Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” Lk 12:17everything for our enjoyment.” Lk 12:17

Live a life of dependence on God.Live a life of dependence on God. Put your hope in God not money/thingsPut your hope in God not money/things Thank God for the blessings you enjoyThank God for the blessings you enjoy


“ “Command them to do good, to be rich Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19In this way they will willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is they may take hold of the life that is truly life.truly life.” Luke 12:18-19” Luke 12:18-19

4.4. Be generous, willing to shareBe generous, willing to share- following Christ’s example- following Christ’s example


II Corinthians 8:9II Corinthians 8:9

““For you know the grace of our For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he was rich, yet for your sakes he

became poor, so that you became poor, so that you through his poverty might through his poverty might

become rich.”become rich.”


“ “Command them to do good, to be rich in Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19In this way they will lay willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly they may take hold of the life that is truly life.life.” Luke 12:18-19” Luke 12:18-19

4.4. Be generous, willing to shareBe generous, willing to share5.5. Lay up treasures in heavenLay up treasures in heaven6.6. Live Life that is truly life.Live Life that is truly life.


6But godliness with contentment is great 6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the gain. 7For we brought nothing into the

world, and we can take nothing out of it. world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who will be content with that. 9People who

want to get rich fall into temptation and want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and a trap and into many foolish and

harmful desires that plunge men into harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of ruin and destruction. 10For the love of

money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have people, eager for money, have

wandered from the faith and pierced wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.themselves with many griefs.


Have a spirit of contentment and Have a spirit of contentment and develop a life of generosity.develop a life of generosity.

[more on this on GEMS Sunday, [more on this on GEMS Sunday, April 22]April 22]

For this we need God.For this we need God.


Story of European wrestling Story of European wrestling champion Yussif the Turkchampion Yussif the Turk

Rick Ezell, Rick Ezell, The 7 Sins of Highly Defective People, p.94, p.94

greed. previously on 7 sins we have looked at 6 sins: pride = wanting to be like god, or to be god....

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