Sermon for 11/15/2009
Greed from Ephesians 5:3-14
Introduction:
An old preacher was dying. He sent a message for his banker and his lawyer, both church members, to come to his home. When they arrived, they were ushered up to his bedroom. As they entered the room, the preacher held out his hands and motioned for them to sit on each side of the bed. The preacher grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled and stared at the ceiling. For a time, no one said anything. Both the banker and lawyer were touched and flattered that the old preacher would ask them to be with him during his final moments. They were also puzzled; the preacher had never given them any indication that he liked either of them. They both remembered his many long and uncomfortable sermons about greed and covetousness that made them squirm in their seats. Finally the banker said, “Preacher, why did you ask the two of us to come?” The old preacher said weakly, “Jesus died between two thieves and that’s how I want to go.”
WBTU:
A. WE are talking about greed today.
B. Another way to describe greed is with the word covetousness. Last of the 10 commandments. (Deu 5:21 NIV) "You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
C. The dictionary definition of “covetousness” is “grasping for more.” This is the sin of selfishness. You’re never content.
Thesis: Today we are going to discuss three forms of greed: Greed for money, greed for sex, and greed for power
For instances:
1. Greed for money
A. This is the most common form of greed and at one time or other we are guilty of it.
B. (1 Tim 6:9 NIV) People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. (1 Tim 6:10 NIV) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
C. Some people are greedy to increase their savings, but most are greedy so they can buy more stuff. (Luke 12:15) Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
D. Greed is the reason consumer debt has doubled in the last 10 years and why most Americans go into debt at a rate of $400 per paycheck. It is why credit card debt in US stands at $1.6 trillion.
E. Ephesians 5:5- While all of these are included, it is especially the money hungry person who is identified as an idolater. It becomes these people’s god or idol and they give their all to it. It is a harsh taskmaster, never satisfied. Just one more dollar!
F. A successful businessman and his friends were talking and laughing together and enjoying success. The businessman told of his childhood of poverty. Someone had given him a big coin. To have a coin was rare for children then, and his little sister begged to hold it. He laughed over the memory of all the chores he could get her to do for him just to get to hold the coin. He told of a day when she minded the cows all day for the privilege of holding the coin, only to have to give it up at the end of the day. All of the men laughed again at the childishness of the sister. Just then, one man not laughing reminded the businessman that all he was doing now in labor and service was for the privilege of holding onto a few possessions. “The end of the day is coming, and you will have to give them up like your little sister did.”
G. That is exactly how it is with all of us. Jesus warned, (Mat 6:19 NIV) "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.(Mat 6:20 NIV) But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
2. Greed for sex
A. Sexual immorality can definitely be a god or an idol- Ephesians 5:5. Never have enough. Steve Shepherd- In 1968 I ordered a new Pontiac Firebird with a 400 cubic inch, 330 horsepower, 4-speed transmission, 160 mph on the speedometer. It was nice. It was powerful. It was fast, but the thrill didn’t last. Eventually the thrill fades away. People want something more exciting, more thrilling. Same thing is true in sexuality
B. As I was preparing for this message I came to the conclusion that I didn’t need to study and tell you about all of the sexual immorality in our world. There was a lot of sexual immorality in the times of the NT and it is not much different today. As a matter of fact, (Eph 5:12) For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
C. (Prov 5:18 NIV) May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. (Prov 5:19 NIV) A loving doe, a graceful deer-- may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love. (Prov 5:20 NIV) Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man’s wife?
D. Yes, adultery is wrong but premarital sex is alright. To answer the Bible says that sex is wonderful. We must make that clear. Ephesians 5:4 tells us not to joke about sex but to give thanks for it. It is wonderful and good in a marriage relationship. Outside of a marriage relationship sexual relations are destructive. It destroys individuals, friends, families, churches, communities, and nations. On an individual level it destroys us physically, socially, and spiritually. Sex is a powerful force. In marriage it is for the good. Outside of marriage it is for the bad.
E. Sex is like a fire. Many of you may have fireplaces in your homes and when the fire is contained within that structure it provides warmth and enjoyment. But if that fire escapes from the fireplace, it can become uncontrollable and burn down your house.
E. Many people like to see how far they can go in this area. How far is too far? A man can watch the swim suits on Miss America, have a few nude pictures on internet, have a playboy; a woman can fantasize with romance novels and soap operas. Let me tell you a story- When the Federal troops occupied Cheraw, South Carolina, the Confederates left so much gun powder behind that the Union troops decided to dump most of it in a little creek. Some of the Union troops were looking for some entertainment so they scooped up handfuls of the powder and carried it to their cooking fires a few hundred yards away, where they exploded it amid much shouting and laughter. With each handful they grew more careless, and left numerous crisscrossing trails of powder running back to the ravine. Sergeant Theodore Upson of the 100th Indiana had just started his coffee boiling when he saw “a little flash of powder running along the ground.” A moment later he noticed that the powder flashes had multiplied and were running in all directions. Someone yelled, “Look out for the magazine!” Upson and his comrades “made some pretty quick moves” in putting as much space between themselves and the creek bed as the burning powder trails would allow. “Then there was a tremendous explosion,” Upson recorded. “The dirt and stones flew in every direction.” The ground shook for miles. The force of the blast destroyed several houses and shattered nearly every window in town. A storm of shell and shrapnel rained down for a half-mile in every direction. One officer and three enlisted men were killed as a result of the blast, and more than a dozen were wounded. Rumor had it that Sherman at first believed the explosion was an act of sabotage, and was on the verge of issuing orders to burn the rest of the town and execute the mayor in retaliation. He relented, however, when he learned that it was the carelessness of his own men that had caused the devastation. Don’t flirt with sexual temptation. It may seem fun for a while but eventually it will burn you and others. (Prov 6:27-28 NIV) Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?
G. Not be even a hint- Ephesians 5:3
3. Greed for power
A. Isn’t it interesting that the two biggest problems in marriages are money and sex? Why? Because they are the two biggest issues of power and control.
B. Yes, there are people out there who love to have people follow their commands. There are people who love to have titles and positions of power. (Mat 23:6 NIV) they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues ;( Mat 23:7 NIV) they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ’Rabbi.’(Mat 23:8 NIV) "But you are not to be called ’Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers.
D. In India they are said to catch monkeys by setting out a small box with a tasty nut in it. There is an opening in the box that is large enough for the monkey to reach in his outstretched hand, but too small for him to withdraw the hand once he’s clutched the nut. When the monkey has grabbed the prize, he must either let go of it and regain his freedom or keep hold of it and stay trapped. Most monkeys hold onto the nut, making it easy for hunters to pick them up. Many of us are caught in the same kind of trap. Instead of a nut, however, we are refusing to let go of money, a hobby, an inappropriate relationship, a promotion, or even a job. Now, we might argue that the person who puts the goody in the box controls the ones who grab it. Look at Ephesians 5:7. If we are willing to let go of the goodies we could go away free. The choice is ours. I’m not saying the choice is always easy, but the choice is ours.
E. (2 Cor 3:17 NIV) where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
F. (Rom 8:6 NIV) the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace
