Seeds

Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors. Proverbs 1:19 ESV

Greediness can be defined as coveting, always wanting more, and the pursuit of unjust gain through dishonest or unethical means. Greediness is driven by an insatiable desire for more material wealth, more possessions, more influence, more power, more privileges, which can lead to self-centered behaviors, a lack of empathy, manipulation, callousness towards others, and, in its worst form, murder or the exploitation of others.

The problem with greed is that it often paves the path to self-destruction and ruin. It robs people of common sense, character, and sometimes their own lives. Greed is strongly linked to negative emotions such as anger, aggression, emotional instability, low self-esteem, emptiness, and a lack of trust.

It is no wonder the Bible cautions us so strongly against covetousness and envy. They are a dangerous, downward slope into greed, which will ultimately ‘take away the life of its possessors.’

So, what’s the antidote? Thankfulness.

The moment we fully understand that everything we have been given is pure grace, a gift from God (James 1:17), then the seeds of gratitude take root in our hearts. Daily expressions of praise and thankfulness water those seeds and produce a heart that is fully content and satisfied. I must admit, social media is my kryptonite. The other day, I was looking at photos of friends’ vacations and wishing we had the funds to travel more. In that moment of envy, the Holy Spirit whispered to my heart, “Just look out your window. You are on vacation every single day.” God, in His goodness, has blessed my husband and I with a beautiful home in an incredible setting. Pure grace. Lesson learned.

You and I cannot allow those seeds of envy to take root. The moment we realize we are entertaining thoughts of “I wish…” or “If only I had…” is the moment we need to fall on our knees and ask God to dig out those seedlings of envy and plant gratitude in their place. Then we worship, give praise, and start counting our blessings. We may discover, in the process, just how much the Lord has done.

Prayer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sE5kEnitqE&list=RD9sE5kEnitqE&start_radio=1

Thought: “Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings, see what God has done. Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” Lyrics by Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1897.