The desire for more physical wealth motivates many people to do many things. In 1 Timothy 6:10, Paul wrote, “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” Paul knew what we should remember: Christians are not immune to the temptation of greed.
Paul was not the only New Testament writer who warned against greed. James also wrote on the subject, correcting Christians whose greed had manifested through their treatment of those visiting their assembly. Consider James 2:1-4:
“My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and you say to the poor man, ‘You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,’ have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?”
These brethren behaved greedily, seeking financial gain by giving special treatment to those they thought were wealthy.
Be careful to keep greed out of your heart. Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:8, “If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.” God has blessed most of us with much more than food and covering, yet few are content. Greediness will never be cured by the accumulation of wealth. The cure is generosity toward others and gratitude toward God. If you are struggling with greediness, give to others and be content with what God has given you.
Comments