Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: GREED (avarice, particularly for wealth and things) (01/22/15)
-
TITLE: The Sin and the Solution | Previous Challenge Entry
By Paula Richards
01/28/15 -
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE
SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT
ADD TO MY FAVORITES
The Word of God has much to say about greed. Young men are warned in the book of Proverbs 1 not to associate with those who rob and pillage for money; believers are admonished not to get involved in ‘get rich quick’ schemes (Prov 13:11); one of the qualifications of bishops and overseers as seen in 1 Timothy 3:8 and Titus 1:7 is that they must not have a materialistic attitude towards money; believers are warned in 1 Timothy 6:10 that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and Jesus Himself warned the multitudes in Luke 12:14 to be on guard against every form of greed, because life is not about acquiring possessions. Balaam’s story in Numbers 22-24 epitomizes the sin of greed and should serve as a lesson to all of us. He was a pagan prophet who was motivated by greed, believing he could profit from doing the work of God. He brought a curse on himself because God was clear; whoever cursed Israel was cursed.
Greed is contrary to the character of God and is listed with the gravest sins in I Corinthians 6:10. If you are always seeking ways to make more money, if shopping is akin to eating a slice of rich chocolate cake, if you play the Lotto, if you are always changing your job for more money, if you will not carry out a task unless paid, if you feel resentment at the possessions of others, if you constantly yearn to live in a house like celebrities or have what they have, then you are harbouring a spirit of greed and it is time to take some spiritual stock.
We all know what greed is and if we were to truly examine our hearts honestly before God, we will admit we have all had to battle it at some point in our lives. The question remains: why are people greedy? It’s simple really; they have not learnt to be content with what they have. The Bible, as always, provides the solution.
Phil. 4:11 - Be content in whatever circumstances you are in
I Tim. 6:6 - Godliness with contentment is great gain
Heb 13:5 - Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things you have.
1 Tim 6:8 - Be content with food and clothing
Luke 3:14 - Be content with your wages
Proverbs 1:19 says greediness takes away the life of its owners. 1 Tim 6:10 shows us the end result of greed - men strayed from their faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. And what of Balaam? It did not end well for him as he was killed when the Israelites went to war against the Midianites (Num 31:8). We learn in Numbers 31 that he was the one who counselled the women of Moab to commit harlotry with Israel at Baal Peor (Numbers 25). Moses on God’s instruction had to purge the Israelites of this sin by wiping out the Midianites. Here is the bottom line: a life focused on material things produces only pain. Here is the solution: be content. God knows exactly what you have need of and what blessings you can handle. Let God be the one to bless you because His blessings make rich and add no sorrow.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
God bless~
Nicely done.
For me personally, it read a bit like a sermon and felt preachy at times. It's possible that may have been your intention, if so you did a nice job. Sometimes, though, it can feel like a lecture and people who really need to hear it may turn away.
A good way to balance the message and being preachy is to share a personal story about a time when greed got the better of you and how God helped you overcome. If you're not comfortable with doing that, you could maybe expand on one of the Bible verses. For example, tell the story of Balaam. Tell it in your own words. Many people won't be familiar with it nor take the time to look it up.
I can feel your passion in your words. Your heart is definitely eager to share the goodness that comes from having Jesus in your life. Your Bible verses were spot on for your message. You have some great points here that just about everyone could relate to in one way or another. It was a well-written cohesive piece.
If you haven't discovered Jan's Writing Basics on the message boards yet, I'd really urge you to check it out and participate. She is great at responding to anyone who posts on the threads or partakes in the "homework." It's a great gem for all levels of writers.
Personally I would have spelled iPhone, iPad, I-Dog to give them the credibility of their registered names.