Recently, I was watching the movie Wall Street. In the movie, Gordon Gekko (played by Michael Douglas) gives the one-liner “Greed is good.” In his speech, he speaks as to why greed is a positive thing that will helps people climb out of the pits they are in.
In his latest episode of Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Gordon Gekko delineates what greed is doing to the world. Of course, while all of the time manipulating people due to his own personal greed.
So, is greed a positive force or a destructive power?
The Bible teaches greed to be a destructive power. The writer of Proverbs says:
“Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.” (Proverbs 23:4)
The apostle Paul, when writing Timothy says:
“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:9-10)
These verses obviously indicate that in God’s economy, greed is a destructive power.
The Bible is not saying that a comfortable lifestyle is wrong or that a person should not accumulate wealth. However, it is saying that if one’s focus is material gain, then that person is on a path of destruction. God indicates a mark of his followers is that they are content.
Paul tells Timothy:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” (1 Timothy 6:6-8)
The writer of Hebrews states:
“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.” (Hebrews 13:5)
Contentment is the opposite of greed. Contentment is being satisfied with what you have been given.
The philosophy of contentment is the opposite of materialism. God is not speaking concerning the amount of material goods one has in their possession, rather he is speaking to the heart of man. One can be rich and be content or one can be rich and greedy. One can be “middle-class” and be content or that same person can be greedy. The same idea applies to the poor.
Greed is not a rich man’s sin, but is a sin all economic conditions will wrestle with in their lives. The question is, “Am I content with what God has given me and entrusted me with?” When you find yourself wanting more, remember God has promised to provide for you want you need and you are to be content with His provision for your life.
BK
