July - 24
A DEADLY SIN: GREED
A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish. Psalm 49:20
Greed can be difficult to discuss in a culture like my own. Greed can become the hidden motive in a free enterprise system, and it can rear its head when the conversation turns to profit margins and capital gains. But greed isn’t just a new sin birthed by materialistic societies. Greed was obviously around in Bible times. That’s why God has so much to say about it.
To understand what God is concerned about, we need to look at Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6. God knows where our hearts are by observing the things we pursue and the stuff we want to pile up and store away.
The point God is making is clear. Assessing my own heart condition is more difficult. I can give to charitable causes and help serve in food lines, and I can even do it well enough so that people will think I am generous. But the bottom line is still about my heart. I might be doing good deeds simply to try to cover up or justify a heart that really just wants more for me and isn’t concerned much about the needs of others.
So, where is my heart? Or better yet—what do my calendar and checkbook say about where my heart is? What do my relationships say about my heart?
Greed is dangerous because it reveals a heart condition. If God doesn’t have my heart, I may possess the world, but in the end, I own nothing of lasting value.
PRAYER
Lord, I admit that at times I don’t want to face the truth about greed in my life. Help me direct my heart to find its real treasure in you. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
在我身处的文化中讨论贪婪，殊不容易。贪婪可以是自由发展企业体制背后的推动力，每当谈到利润率和资本盈利时，贪婪便显露出来。然而，贪婪不是物质主义社会的新产品，在圣经时代明显地已有贪婪，所以神才花那么多唇舌谈论它。
若要明白神的顾虑，我们需要看看耶稣在马太福音6章的教训。借着观察我们追求甚么，和我们囤积收藏甚么，神便知道我们的心究竟在哪里？
神要说的已经非常清楚，但要评估我自己的心灵状况却甚为困难。我可以捐款给慈善机构，帮忙施赠膳食，我甚至可以做得像模象样，以致别人认为我很慷慨，但是，基本上仍然要看我的心。我的心其实不是关怀别人的需要，我做善事，可能只是为了掩饰或找借口为自己争取更多东西而已。
那么，我的心在哪里呢？或者问一些更贴身的问题—— 我的日程安排和支票本显示我的心在哪里？我与人的关系显示我心灵状况如何呢？
贪婪是很危险的，因为它揭露了我们的心出了问题。我的心若不属于神，尽管我拥有全世界，我始终都得不到任何有永恒价值的东西。
祷告
主啊，我承认有时我不想面对生命中的贪婪。求祢帮助我，叫我的心灵在祢里面追求真正的财宝。奉耶稣名求，阿们。