The 7 Deadly Sins Part 2: Greed
Whenever many of us see greed played out in some movie, show or cartoon, we always see some ruler or ghostly spirit hoarding some massive stash of food or money. One may believe greed entails of these things only but it goes even beyond this realm. But first, let us grab a definition of greed from the Strong’s Concordance and dictionary.com:
Greed
excessive or rapacious desire, especially for wealth or possessions.
Strong's Number
H1214
Original Word
בּצע
Transliterated Word
bâtsa‛
Phonetic Spelling
baw-tsah'
Parts of Speech
Verb
Strong's Definition
A primitive root to break {off} that {is} (usually) plunder; figuratively to {finish} or (intransitively) stop: - (be) covet ({-ous}) cut ({off}) {finish} {fulfill} gain ({greedily}) {get} be given to {[covetousness]} {greedy} {perform} be wounded.
You see, greediness is an excessive desire. It is beyond the normal or reasonable level. So much so that you can become rapacious and seize or take what you want. Often times never being satisfied. So you are always covetous. You desire what you desire even if someone else already has or owns it. You are given over to this spirit and it can lead you to plunder whoever is necessary to achieve your gain.
Ezekiel 22:12 KJV
In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD.
Greed will lead one to take gifts, which we would refer to today as bribes. It may even make you a hitman or put you in place to hire one, so you may be able to obtain the valuables that someone else owns. You may even resort to charging your own people taxes or an excessive amount for a product or service just so you can get a little more. You may even use extortion to obtain what it is you desire. I mean after all, you are the authority in the situation, so if you have people that are subject unto you, you have the ability to take advantage of them. But just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. And in the process you end up forgetting about the Most High because you forget his laws.
Deuteronomy 17:15-19 KJVS
Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the LORD thy God shall choose: one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee: thou mayest not set a stranger over thee, which is not thy brother. [16] But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way. [17] Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. [18] And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: [19] And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
The scriptures provide the right balance if we take the time to assess them properly. When or if you become a leader, governor, prince etc. you cannot use your position, power and influence to gain things simply because you sit in that position. Often times, through extorting the people because you are the authority and they are subject to you. You give the word they perform the action. But if the word is not right and if they do it or refuse, you are held responsible because you gave the order.
Proverbs 1:19 KJV
So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
When you are greedy, you can reach a point where you begin to take the lives of those you feel necessary to achieve your desire. That cannot only be limited to the very life that person has but also extends to their livelihood. And some believe they are even doing the person a service if they take from them various possessions (car, house, family) but they leave the person alive. Not knowing you could have ultimately put this person in a living hell through your actions. What could have been a pleasant life, or even one with some adversity, became a living nightmare because of what you wanted and you took from them.
1 Kings 21:5-11 KJVS
But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? [6] And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard. [7] And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. [8] So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. [9] And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people: [10] And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. [11] And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them.
This is exactly what Jezebel did. She saw her husband wanted a vineyard even though he had one and this was someone else’s. He wouldn’t sell it, so I have a wise plan (one that is really crafty and wicked) to be able to claim the land for myself and give it to my husband. But she used her husband’s authority to do it. She orchestrated the whole thing under his name. Murdered this man to have his land. When as the king and queen you usually already have the largest and most abundant of almost everything you can think of. But as the spirit of greed entails; I want more even if it is yours.
Ephesians 4:19 KJV
Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
But that’s what happens. You’re past just feeling like you want it. Now I am ready to seize it. I am ready to do what is needed to have it in my possession. So you are given over unto lasciviousness. You are given over to a deep and strong lust for more. And now you are become more willing to move accordingly and do whatever is necessary to achieve it. And while that spirit of greed grows its bringing all of these other spirits with it; hate, jealousy, envy, lust, covetousness, murder, extortion, I mean the list can go on as that spirit grows.
Ezekiel 22:27 KJVS
Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.
It’s sad, but it happens. Leaders can be among you and due to a spirit of greed on them, they can become like ravening wolves. You become pray unto them. And they are willing, ready and waiting to tear you up. They aren’t reasoning aright and what they need to do in an honest and noble way to get what they desire, especially, as leaders. But rather are hell bent on how they can con you and deceive you out of what you have. And even when and if you refuse, they will result to shedding your blood. Like the godfather said, “I’m going to make you an offer you can’t refuse.”
Job 27:8 KJV
For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul?
But you have to check yourself if these words apply and certainly check others, that at the end of the day, if you are moving like this you may have success for a time. But the time will come both in this life and the next, when the check for all of these damages will be due. And when it comes you may not be able to pay in full. So that judgement will be for your life. And all this gain will fall into the hands of another.
Isaiah 56:11 KJV
Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.
You don’t want to be that. You don’t want to be a greedy dog that can never have enough. You have to know there are respectable limits. You can’t be so self centered and selfish that you disregard others even those closest to you because of what it is you hope to gain.
Proverbs 21:26 KJV
He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
You can’t be caught up always thinking about how you can get. And how much more you feel you need to have. But rather give place to meditate on how you can be a blessing and help to others. That’s how the righteous think, how can I help someone else? How can I help my people? How can I help my family? Because if I’m winning, my win should be able to help others win.
1 Timothy 3:3 KJV
Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
As a leader, especially in the congregation. You cannot be greedy of gain and having a deep desire for money. That was what caused Judas Iscariot to fall. He was so blinded by greed that he lost sight of love, family, and brotherhood.
1 Samuel 8:1-5 KJVS
And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. [2] Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer–sheba. [3] And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. [4] Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, [5] And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
See our people desired a king. And they certainly got a king, we had many. But not all of us are able to remember why we wanted a king. Samuel was a prophet, not only was he a prophet but he was a seer. One that was able to dialogue with God. But this man had children that he made leaders when he was old but they were not Godly. Just because one is a leader doesn’t mean his children will be fit to lead in his place. But many men desire, that if I am leading hopefully my children will do the same. But these kids were not fifteen years of age. Or even twenty five. With Samuel being old his kids were probably in their forties and maybe even in their fifties. We tend to forget that no matter how old you get your children will always be your children. I know elders today who talk about their kids being in their fifties and other elders saying they still babies. Some think children and think teens or twenties. But his kids were desperately wicked and greedy. And their actions provoked Israel to desire a king when God was our King.
Proverbs 15:27 KJV
He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
When you are greedy you cause issues not only for you but for your house, for your family and your people. You never know who can be a victim because of your actions. Your mother, brother, sister, auntie whoever. May have had nothing to do with the situation but because they are attached to you, they get judged right along with you. Or even if they can’t get to you, if they can get to someone close to you, that is good enough for them. But if you can learn to reform your ways and hate the things you use to do you can avoid these issues and live a better life and they can too.
Proverbs 28:8 KJV
He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
But if you continue in operating in a fashion of greed and gaining things in a way that is unjust you will ultimately be gathering for someone else. Because you will be shortening your life expectancy. And the person you thought was the least qualified to have it God may very well give your substance too.
Isaiah 33:15-17 KJVS
He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; [16] He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. [17] Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty: they shall behold the land that is very far off.
The Most High gives you the play by play. He gives you the forecast and outlook for one who changes their ways. And even if you can’t get everything you desire in this life, you have to learn to be able to say with conviction; that’s okay, I know I will receive it in the next. Because I chose and fought to do thus saith the Lord. And God is not a man that he should lie.
Titus 1:10-11 KJVS
For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: [11] Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
But the people who do and teach otherwise. We have a job to stop them. And no we can’t simply cover their mouths but we can teach in righteousness that which God says is good. And be able to help put to silence some of those who grow shame through realizing they were wrong. Some will change as a result while others will begin to die down. But the people will see the real teachers in time.
Ezekiel 22:12-15 KJVS
In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbours by extortion, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord GOD. [13] Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee. [14] Can thine heart endure, or can thine hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I the LORD have spoken it, and will do it. [15] And I will scatter thee among the heathen, and disperse thee in the countries, and will consume thy filthiness out of thee.
See, eventually you will see their downfall. As God will judge them for their crimes. The curses will fall upon them in their fullness until he has destroyed them. And even some of that is in hope they might repent. If not, it will worsen until ultimately they perish and die.
Ephesians 4:22-24 KJVS
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; [23] And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; [24] And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
That is why we must see these things and make a conscious decision to identify I was wrong, I need to change, I will make the changes and fight to continue strong. You have to take control of your body, your mind and your spirit and reprogram yourself so you are no longer being led where Satan will have you go but rather the way The Most High says go.
Matthew 16:26 KJV
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
