Greed Discussion with Steve Carter and Leo Sabo

For this week’s zoom meeting discussion, Steve Carter and Leo Sabo discuss the topic of greed.

Notes

Discussion Notes

Greed defined: a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (such as money) than is needed.

Effect of Greed

  • It causes money to become the object of devotion and commitment.

  • Can separate families and relationships. Ex. Fighting over an inheritance.

  • Breeds dishonesty and guilt.

Why is greed so hard to notice today?

  • Evidence of Greed in our Society

    • Storage - putting money aside that will never be used, primarily because it brings a feeling of security.

    • Bigger, faster, better - we consistently replace things that still operate well for newer or slightly better models; cars, houses, clothes, electronics, etc.

    • Success is almost always associated with financial and material wealth.

    • Spirituality is being commercialized - we associate success with size, whether it’s number of people attending our churches, number of campuses, or size of the budget.

Can a Christian be financially rich or wealthy and not be influenced by greed?

  • 1 Timothy 6:9-10

    • 1 Timothy 6:9-10 (NIV) Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.  It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

    • Paul is condemning our motives and values, not our incomes.

    • The concern isn’t how much money we make or whether we have more than others.

    •  He is focus is on what we treasure most and how much we keep in relation to how much we give.


The Bible warns against putting our hope in money and wealth. How can a Christian know when he is crossing that line?

  • How to Resist Greed

    • Recognize when greed is present

    • Repent and commit to God

    • Limit the grip greed has on you

      • Disciplined lifestyle marked by frugality

      • Give consistently and extravagantly - widow’s mite (gave out of her need not surplus).

Supporting Scriptures:

  • Matthew 6:19, 24b “Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal… You cannot serve God and money.”

  • Ecclesiastes 5:13 “There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun; riches being hoarded by their owner to his hurt.”

  • Jeremiah 6:13 “From the least of them even to the greatest of them, every-one is greedy for gain, and from the prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely.”

  • Luke 12:15 “He said to them, ‘Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.’”

  • Jude 11 “Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.”

Potential Questions:

  1. Why is greed so hard to notice today?

  2. The Bible warns against putting our hope in money and wealth. How can a Christian know when he is crossing that line?

  3. Can a Christian be financially rich or wealthy and not be influenced by greed? How?

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