Greed

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.  -Colossians 3:5

For how often greed is discussed in the Bible, I think the church rarely talks about it. I also think it’s one of those other things the church tends to judge outsiders on - I have never once heard of someone talking to another church member about their tendency to be greedy, or confess greed in a prayer or confession time.

Confession time for me though - while I was reading this, I got distracted with an e-mail about laptop promotions! “Yes God, good word… I love your Bible, wonder what that scripture means… Ooh, new laptop models!” It’s disturbing, really - without greed I think our culture would just cease to function. Of course, we can thinly mask our greed with certain christian-ese: “blessing”, “hunger, “fruits”, “success”... What is even more maddening to me is that I can be talking about bearing fruit and making an impact, and the other person can be nodding and thinking we are on the same page where I am talking soul impact and they are thinking worldly influence.

I think it’s also disturbing the number of people I know who say they have a hard time worshiping. It’s a lot of people! However, the same people who have a hard time worshiping God often times have no problem worshiping a sports team or a new car. Maybe we are thinking about worship wrong. We don’t think of greed as worship, but the Bible says it is.