Webbijbel
Gert-Jan Van Zanten
Written by Joanne Beckley
Recently I read the following quote and it reminded me of an email I
received, voicing his concern about materialism in the churches of
America. It prompted me to think about how my own life reflects my
desires, and yes, sometimes, greed. But is greed a concern that is
subject to any and everyone’s definition? Where do we draw the line?
For that matter, should we? And, if so, are there “flags” we can
raise to warn us of the danger of covetousness? (Eph.5:5; James
4:1-3).
There is a story that was told of tycoon John D. Rockefeller.
“Sir,” someone asked him, “how much money do you have?”
“A lot,” the billionaire answered.
“Sir, how much money do you want?”
“A little bit more.”
Not only Americans, but the entire world seeks a little bit more and
has a goal of being in the fast lane with a jet-set lifestyle. I
thought I encountered this only in America, and only in American
churches, but even my brethren in South Africa have a strong, almost
overwhelming desire to get a good education so they can “make
money.” In years past the talk was to make enough so they wouldn’t
go hungry. Today, the economy is better and the government has
opened up more avenues to get rich. I am now hearing the 10th verse
of the American refrain – in Africa. People are people the world
over and greed is the name of the game. Enough is never enough.
Webster defines enough as “occurring in such quantity, quality or
scope as to fully satisfy demands or needs.” Sometimes I wonder if
we should allow this word in our dictionaries!
One day a man demanded of Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide
the inheritance with me". Besides chiding the man for asking him
this question, Jesus warned him, “Take heed and beware of
covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of
the things he possesses" (Luke 12:15). He then told a story of a
rich man who literally hoarded his wealth for himself. Jesus called
him a fool. And then Jesus reminded all of us that ANYONE who “lays
up treasure for himself” is not rich toward God. That “anyone”
includes you and me.
Webster defines greed as “excessive or reprehensible
acquisitiveness.” Upon reading this, we immediately ask, how much is
too much? And don’t we tell the poor to “Go get a job! Or, “Just
read a book on the power of positive thinking!” As if to say, “Don’t
call us; we’ll call you.” If this is our only way of “helping,” we
will have trouble with John’s words, “We also ought to lay down our
lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees
his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the
love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:16-17).
How much is too much?The police have a way to gauge whether
someone is illegally drunk while driving. Is there a yardstick for
identifying greed? To the starving African, one who has meat to eat
is rich. To an American who has two cars in a closed garage and a
prestigious address, this represents arrival. Frankly, we all have
difficulty appreciating our comparative good fortune. Why? Because
we compare ourselves to other Americans rather than to the people in
the world. ANY American is viewed as rich by the majority of the
world.
There was a man who took the time to seriously think about whether
he was under the influence of greed. He gave himself three criteria
to measure himself against. (1) the manner in which he sought his
“treasures,” (2) the manner in which he enjoyed his treasures, and
(3) the manner in which he mourned the loss of his treasures. Who
was the man? Charles Simeon (1759-1836).
Amazing! Here is a man who wasn’t blessed with nearly the amount of
“treasures” we enjoy today, yet we are told he lived frugally so as
to have the wherewith to give to the poor. Mr Simeon understood the
two laws upon which hang all the commands of God: “You shall love
the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all
your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as
yourself.” If we do this, and control our greed, we will live. (Luke
10:27-28).
There are consequences when we love money Each one of us grew
up bombarded by the public school (get a good education so you can
have the best paid career possible!) and the media (look what you
can have!). We quickly learn that if we have lots of money we can
buy power and prestige. We begin thinking that our ultimate success
is measured in dollar signs (1 Tim.6:10).Yet Jesus’ question
continues to face us: "For what will it profit a man if he gains the
whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36).
Sadly, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer – and neither
find happiness. Jesus knows where true happiness lies, "Give, and it
will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together,
and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same
measure that you use, it will be measured back to you" (Luke 6:38).
So we must ask ourselves, can we accept that we may lose our souls
because of our present lifestyle?
There are other questions we should ask ourselves:1. Do I
walk through my home singing “I Surrender All,” yet blind to the
possibility of sacrificing the extra DVD player, the 2nd personal
computer and all the credit cards in my wallet in order to help a
brother or sister in need?
2. How am I recognizing the difference between what I “want”and what
I really “need”?
3. Am I justifying my “need” by telling myself that I deserve it
because I worked so hard for it?
4. How long does my “happiness” last after I purchase something I
“need”?
5. Has my “need” created a problem in being unable to pay my debts
(including credit cards)?
6. How much of my salary goes toward helping others who are in need?
7. Is what I “need” affecting my spiritual growth?
8. Does my “need” to make money distract me from my marriage or
involvement with other Christians?
9. Can I reorder my priorities?
Yes, we can determine what kind of steward we want to be. We can set
aside more for giving our time and money AND our hearts toward the
needs of others. We can be like Mary and recognize the value of
Jesus’ call to give all of ourselves, even the expensive ointment as
she did. We can respond to Paul’s exhortation to Titus: “Send Zenas
the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may
lack nothing.” We too can “learn to maintain good works, to meet
urgent needs, that they (we) may not be unfruitful” (Titus 3:13-14).
“For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of
the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the
world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who
does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:1-17).
Do we believe this?
