Be Spiritually Greedy

What is your American dream today? Is it to work hard during the week so you can party harder over the weekend? Is it to work your way up the ladder enough to get a high-paying executive job so you can order underlings around? Or is it simply to accumulate enough wealth so that you're comfortable and don't have to worry about living from paycheck to paycheck?



All of these could be considered forms of greed. Our society today, though it doesn't put an emphasis on greed per se, definitely puts an emphasis on ambition. While that in itself is not a sin, it can easily become greed if used inappropriately. A powerful example of this is found in the book of Numbers chapter 16, after the Israelites had escaped Egypt and were on their way to Canaan, wandering in the desert as punishment for their idolatry. A man named Korah, who had gained influence over important people in the Israelite community, was ambitious enough to try and take Moses' brother Aaron's place as high priest of the people. The whole story can be found here. God knew Korah's heart was filled with greed disguised as ambition, and He quickly punished Korah and his followers for their sin. He opened up the earth and swallowed Korah, his men, their households, and all their possessions, and fire consumed the men who were making an offering out of greed on Korah's behalf (Numbers 16:31-35).



Greed cost Korah and his followers their lives. For Israel's King Rehoboam in the book of 2 Chronicles chapter 10, his greed left the kingdom of Israel divided and broken. The Israelites had requested that the new king lighten their harsh labor and heavy yoke that his father, King Solomon, had placed on them. But instead of listening to them and the elders who had served Solomon, he elected to take the advice of his peers and seek greater control over the Israelites. He told them that he would lay an even heavier hand on them. The Israelites rebelled and killed Adoniram, the man who was in charge of forced labor, and King Rehoboam had to flee. Fortunately, once the prophet Shemaiah came to Rehoboam with God's message that he would allow Rohoboam to be conquered, the king and his followers humbled themselves before God, and God gave them deliverance.

These two Old Testament stories are there to teach us the dangers of earthly greed. But I think a true Christian should be extremely greedy. A good kind of greed, if you will. A spiritual greed. Jesus told us of this type of greed in the Gospel according to Matthew when he said, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven...For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21) If we choose to be greedy about where we spend eternity, we can overcome the need for temporary, earthly treasures. If we choose to obey God, we are storing up our own treasures in heaven! He will give us a mansion in heaven if we follow His Word! Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. I hope you can join me in making your desire to be rich in heaven far greater than your earthly desires. Praise be to God for his wonderful promises!