The world has enough for everyone’s need but not enough for everyone’s greed. [1]
This Cancerous Cell
Greed, in the human heart, is like a cancerous cell – always present but not yet evident.
It is scandalous, but its effect is humungous in measure.
Greed causes the agent to lead a restless life, with a never-ending clamor to amass the world’s goods.
If Greed were given life and voice, a modulated refrain would undoubtedly proceed from its mouth, like:
“More, more about this world; More, more about this world; More of its treasures seek; Pleasures and treasures reserved for me.”
Truth is, irrespective of age or caste, every human possesses strains of this evil. It’s our rightful birthright, passed down undiluted through our ‘DNA’ over the millennia.
From the most trivial scenario to the most evident bravado, pause for a moment, look around the world, and notice that almost every social evil finds its root in Greed.
Like all human wants, Greed is insatiable; hence, indulging strengthens its resolve and emboldens its cause.
True or False
Are you contemplating that Greed might be unnoticed among the cardinal sins concealed within your heart?
Evaluate your alignment with this deadly sin using a true-or-false checklist to gain insight into your inner convictions.
“The End Justifying The Means”
Think of officials who loot public resources, allow contraband to pass through the border points, ruin the credibility of a nation’s education system by leaking examinations, pre-determine election results, you name it.
Sadly, such actions are justified using misconstrued phrases such as:
“Man eateth where he worketh,”
“Opportunity knocks once at every man’s door,”
“The end justifies the means,” and so on.
All this is blatantly shouted over our faces, the proponents forgetting the old Puritan John Owen’s counsel:
Why Are We Greedy?
But let’s pause to ask:
Why are humans greedy?
Why is this vice so rampant across all ranks and social strata, as if it was the metaphorical cat that was let out of the bag ages ago?
Well, I have a hypothesis.
The foundation of Greed is a faulty delusion.
Yet, this isn’t the ordinary make-believe facade. No, this is bigger and sweeter.
Here it is: Humans believe they will be around for eons, hence the unbridled desire to continually ‘secure’ the uncertain future.
This delusion, first propagated by the great archenemy in words, “Thou shall not surely die,” has never lost its charming attraction.
In addition, some people misapplied Solomon, the Philosopher, whose advice was that “A good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren.”
Any greedy parent’s most certain defense when confronted by their children for perpetrating such impunity is, “I was doing this for you, your siblings, and future generations.”
Thus, many will garner or scramble for fleeting wealth by any means possible.
Is it a wonder, therefore, when we witness the children distance themselves from their parent’s estate, wanting nothing to do with it, or worse, those who remain attached end up ordering dysfunctional and rudderless lives?
How Then Do We Overcome?
I must admit that there are no quick fixes or simple remedies for this issue.
Overcoming greed, as with other deadly sins, requires a committed, humble, and teachable soul.
One must be willing to let go of one’s prior learnings and ideologies for something better whose utility outlives our mortality.
1. Remember The Uncertainty of Life
First, we must forever remember that our existence here below is laden with uncertainty, more like life appears to be nothing but a game of chance.
Our start and finish dates are already pre-determined by the One who upholds and guides the universe.
Yet, this crucial information remains a mystery to us.
With such a realization, all harbored self-importance and arrogance fizzle in insignificance.
2. Always Embrace Contentment With What You Have
Second, the only undoubtedly effective antidote is embracing contentment.
As some insightful tweet [2] recently said, “Contentment doesn’t kill desire; It cancels desperation.”
Desperation and comparison are the two significant catalysts responsible for the manifestation of Greed Version 3.0.
Contentment isn’t some primitive notion, as some think of it. Instead, it is part of the ‘present truth.’
Why else would the most seasoned Bible author [3] record this: “But godliness with contentment is of great gain.”
And who else best demonstrated this virtue than the Master Himself?
He was rich but chose to become poor for our sake. He was equal to God but counted it not as if it was too lofty to set aside.
In fact, although it was nothing less than an insult to His divinity for Him to appear in human flesh, He remained content.
Because of the joy that was set before Him, [4] He humbled Himself on the Cross, despised its shame, and is now sitting on the right-hand side of the throne of God.
3. You Were Made For A Place Beyond This World
What if we paused to reflect as C.S. Lewis did when he asserted,
“If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”
What if the intense desire for the accumulation of the world’s goods doesn’t fade away because probably the desires aren’t evil; only the object of our desire is.
What if our hearts were made to embrace loftier ideals, but we demeaned our prized position as the Crown of God’s creation whenever we indulge in Greed?
What if we were meant to desire the Almighty and aspire to become like Him with everything in us?
Here’s My Call To You
If you are ready to cast this Greed that lurks in the crevices of your heart away, I call you for self-introspection, for “he who thinks is standing should watch lest he falls.”
We are all guilty of making an allowance for this cherished idol in our lives.
Yet, we ought not to wallow in hopelessness or sink in despair.
Like the prodigal son, let us boldly proclaim, “I will arise and go to my Father.”
Then, like the Psalmist, we’ll have the moral courage to pray for a new heart and renewed spirit that hungers for God and godliness more than anything else this world affords.
Ellen White [5] best punctuates it:
And at the final day, when the wealth of earth shall perish, he who has laid up treasure in heaven will behold that which his life has gained.
INSPIRATION
1. What Your Counselor Never Told You by Dr. William Backus
2. King James Bible
