Ambition or Greed/Covetousness?
Introduction. Living in America presents many opportunities - it is a place where hard work, integrity, and honesty often reward us with great success. In this environment, Jesus’ warning becomes much more difficult to assess and apply to ourselves: “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.” (Lk. 12:15). When was the last time we thought about this warning? Are we truly watching for it and guarding against it? What would need to happen in our life for the alarms to go off that we were in danger? How do we draw a line between the upward mobility of our American culture and the forms of greed Jesus warned against above?
We see greed in fictional characters like Scrooge or Midas. We see it clearly when one is gambling and loses huge sums of money, or when someone uses credit cards until they reach bankruptcy. But those are the extremes. Where is the line we are watching for actually crossed?
With advertisers seeking to motivate us to buy new technology, do we ever upgrade out of covetousness? Is it really time to get a new TV, cell phone, computer? Should we drive a car until it quits running or buy a new one every year? What kind of home should we buy and how many upgrades should we make? The very need to ask such questions reveals just how prosperous we are and just how difficult it is to apply another warning: “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you.”" (Heb. 13:5)
The word “content” does not harmonize well with the philosophies of our culture. It is defined “a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed, a mind contented with its lot.” But our economy is based on “planned obsolescence” which is the exact opposite. What we purchase today is designed to be obsolete and needing replacement within the next few years. There is a planned and built-in “discontentment” in many of the products we possess.
But does this mean we cannot want more? Are ambition or the rewards of hard work and success condemned as covetousness? Is it wrong to have a nice home, two cars, a new television or computer, and to still want more?
These are tough questions and we need to be asking them. There are simply too many warnings in the Scripture about the grave dangers of this emotion to simply assume we are safe because “everyone else is doing it” or “it is a part of our culture.”
Where is this elusive line? When does wealth from wholesome ambition, a strong work ethic, or as a blessing from God turn to greed? Abraham was rich. So also were David and Solomon. Wealth alone is not a sin, but it is dangerous. With the creation of credit cards and the ease to refinance a home for quick cash, when does this urge to buy and our discontentment become a sin.
While America itself classifies people economically as poor, middle class or rich, it is based on our own standards and not those of the rest of the world. Even the poor in America are rich based on the standards of those who lived in the times of Christ. Jesus spoke of “daily bread.” Paul left the threshold at “having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” He then strongly warned against “those who desire to be rich” for they will “fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.” It is evident from these warnings that there is a fine line and a grave risk for those who want to be rich and those who are only seeking to work hard and are rewarded for their hard work. The key centers on “the love of money” which is called here “a root of all kinds of evil.” It can and does lead some to “stray from the faith in their greediness, and pierce themselves through with many sorrows.” (1Tim. 6:6-11). Paul warned Timothy to “flee these things.” They are dangerous and even deadly.
So we have asked a lot of questions and seen many dangers. What can we do about it? Since every Christian in America is “rich” according to the biblical standard, there is no one reading this article who can escape the risks and dangers and therefore must be deeply concerned. So we all must read this next Scripture and seek to apply it to ourselves.
The answers are not complex, but they require soul searching and a careful scrutiny of our real motives. These answers are found in the instructions to the rich:
Do we look to God for all our needs or have we become so accustomed to having everything we desire that God has gradually receded? “Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth,” (Deut. 8:17-18). Every prayer should give some form of praise to God for the wealth we possess. The prosperity of our nation and our own health are all precious gifts He has given and we would do well never to forget it and to express it often.
Finally, it comes down to how we use our wealth. There are four issues: (1) “do good,” (2) “rich in good works,” (3) “generous,” and (4) “ready to share.” As we consider our gross wages, we all recognize that a fixed portion goes to taxes and insurance and another to basic necessities of life. But after all of that is taken into consideration, what is left is at our discretion. It is within this amount that our attention must focus. As we consider this part of our income, how much of it is going to these four things? While the Jews gave the tithe, they gave much more when you consider the cost of their animal sacrifices, first fruits, first born animals, free will offerings, etc. How does our use of our money measure up here? If our giving is not even 10% of our total income, we may hear from the Lord that we were not on our guard against covetousness and allowed selfishness and not Him to dictate the use of our money.
Conclusion: When Dorcus died, all the widows spoke of her good works that she did for them. Would anyone weep for us? Would anyone feel that we would be a real loss to the church because of our selfless giving not only of money, but time? Our best defense against greed is a good offense. When we are rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate and laying up a good foundation against the time to come, we are not covetous no matter what we have. If we are selfish and miserly, we are covetous no matter how little we have. The choice is ours, but the consequences are in the hands of God.
We see greed in fictional characters like Scrooge or Midas. We see it clearly when one is gambling and loses huge sums of money, or when someone uses credit cards until they reach bankruptcy. But those are the extremes. Where is the line we are watching for actually crossed?
With advertisers seeking to motivate us to buy new technology, do we ever upgrade out of covetousness? Is it really time to get a new TV, cell phone, computer? Should we drive a car until it quits running or buy a new one every year? What kind of home should we buy and how many upgrades should we make? The very need to ask such questions reveals just how prosperous we are and just how difficult it is to apply another warning: “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you.”" (Heb. 13:5)
The word “content” does not harmonize well with the philosophies of our culture. It is defined “a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed, a mind contented with its lot.” But our economy is based on “planned obsolescence” which is the exact opposite. What we purchase today is designed to be obsolete and needing replacement within the next few years. There is a planned and built-in “discontentment” in many of the products we possess.
But does this mean we cannot want more? Are ambition or the rewards of hard work and success condemned as covetousness? Is it wrong to have a nice home, two cars, a new television or computer, and to still want more?
These are tough questions and we need to be asking them. There are simply too many warnings in the Scripture about the grave dangers of this emotion to simply assume we are safe because “everyone else is doing it” or “it is a part of our culture.”
Where is this elusive line? When does wealth from wholesome ambition, a strong work ethic, or as a blessing from God turn to greed? Abraham was rich. So also were David and Solomon. Wealth alone is not a sin, but it is dangerous. With the creation of credit cards and the ease to refinance a home for quick cash, when does this urge to buy and our discontentment become a sin.
While America itself classifies people economically as poor, middle class or rich, it is based on our own standards and not those of the rest of the world. Even the poor in America are rich based on the standards of those who lived in the times of Christ. Jesus spoke of “daily bread.” Paul left the threshold at “having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” He then strongly warned against “those who desire to be rich” for they will “fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.” It is evident from these warnings that there is a fine line and a grave risk for those who want to be rich and those who are only seeking to work hard and are rewarded for their hard work. The key centers on “the love of money” which is called here “a root of all kinds of evil.” It can and does lead some to “stray from the faith in their greediness, and pierce themselves through with many sorrows.” (1Tim. 6:6-11). Paul warned Timothy to “flee these things.” They are dangerous and even deadly.
So we have asked a lot of questions and seen many dangers. What can we do about it? Since every Christian in America is “rich” according to the biblical standard, there is no one reading this article who can escape the risks and dangers and therefore must be deeply concerned. So we all must read this next Scripture and seek to apply it to ourselves.
The answers are not complex, but they require soul searching and a careful scrutiny of our real motives. These answers are found in the instructions to the rich:
- “Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.” (1Tim. 6:17-19)
Do we look to God for all our needs or have we become so accustomed to having everything we desire that God has gradually receded? “Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth,” (Deut. 8:17-18). Every prayer should give some form of praise to God for the wealth we possess. The prosperity of our nation and our own health are all precious gifts He has given and we would do well never to forget it and to express it often.
Finally, it comes down to how we use our wealth. There are four issues: (1) “do good,” (2) “rich in good works,” (3) “generous,” and (4) “ready to share.” As we consider our gross wages, we all recognize that a fixed portion goes to taxes and insurance and another to basic necessities of life. But after all of that is taken into consideration, what is left is at our discretion. It is within this amount that our attention must focus. As we consider this part of our income, how much of it is going to these four things? While the Jews gave the tithe, they gave much more when you consider the cost of their animal sacrifices, first fruits, first born animals, free will offerings, etc. How does our use of our money measure up here? If our giving is not even 10% of our total income, we may hear from the Lord that we were not on our guard against covetousness and allowed selfishness and not Him to dictate the use of our money.
Conclusion: When Dorcus died, all the widows spoke of her good works that she did for them. Would anyone weep for us? Would anyone feel that we would be a real loss to the church because of our selfless giving not only of money, but time? Our best defense against greed is a good offense. When we are rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate and laying up a good foundation against the time to come, we are not covetous no matter what we have. If we are selfish and miserly, we are covetous no matter how little we have. The choice is ours, but the consequences are in the hands of God.