Intro; Today’s message is dealing with the area of Greed.
Greed is another one of those sins that you can’t see but the people around you can see it in you.
Perhaps you with the mentioning of the word greed a face popped up in your mind. Could be your wife or husband.
Greed says many things but they are all in one area. Just one more car, house, rod and reel, donut, piece of pie, suit, boat, and one more of this or that.
Enough is never enough, Greed has us in the sleeper hold and we can’t get away.
Greed is the focus of our daily lives, computer companies make it where by the time the make one computer it is out dated by the time it hits the shelves. You buy it today and six weeks down the road you want the newest one out and you have to re-buy it again.
Large oil companies keep automotive dealers from ever making a car that would go only on electricity. They are greedy and want you and I to need all their oil.
Greed led to Samuel’s sons taking under the table bribes.
Greed led Esau to sell his birthright and blessing to Jacob.
Greed caused a rich young ruler to turn away from the Lord Jesus.
Greed has turned the sport’s industry into a bunch of rich beggars.
There was a question that was asked by a number of Americans,
What would you do for Ten Million Dollars?
1. 25% said that they abandon all of their friends.
2. 23% said that they would be willing to work as a prostitute for a week.
3. 16% would give up their citizenship.
4. 10% would hold evidence that would let a murderer go free.
5. 7% said that they would murderer a stranger.
6. 6% said they would change their race.
7. 4% would have sex-change operation.
Where is this greedy world headed too! We want too much and give too little back.
I. Is there a difference between Greed and Ambition?
In times past, Greed has been considered a vice, but now a day it is attributed as a competitive edge, go-getters.
Greed is no longer looking at it as a sin.
In fact, many people now look at greed as good. It is a sign of being highly motivated toward success.
Many call greed a desire to reach the top of the social ladder, a desire to improve oneself, a desire to set goals, and to have nice things.
Many don’t consider it to be a deadly sin. It is having good taste and an appreciation for quality.
Now, throughout the Bible there are lists of wicked behaviors or vices and nearly always, greed is included. It is found along side of murder, deceit, sexual immorality, idolatry, drunkenness, and hate.
The Bible calls greed a “grievous sin.”
But today let’s look at
II. God’s remedy for Greed.
The Bible shows and tells us of only one behavior that can remedy Greed and the is “generosity.”
You see Greed is self-centered. Generosity is focused on others.
Greed Hoards. Generosity relinquishes.
Greed holds on tight. Generosity shares freely.
Greed is closefisted. Generosity is openhanded, and ready to give to them that has a need.
Greed keeps a mental list of all our wants. Generosity keeps a mental list of those that have a need.
Paul taught us four lessons about generosity,
1. Generosity in Attitude.
2 Corinthians 9:7 (KJV)
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
We are to be cheerful in giving, eager to give, bring our offerings in laughing all the way. You have heard laugh all the way to the bank?
I have never met a negative generous person. They are usually upbeat, positive, optimistic, and faith-filled.
Giving with a faithful heart means that we don’t give with an ulterior motive, generosity with nothing following.
Most give with the thought of getting something in return.
God never in the Word promises that if you give something to some that you are going to receive something in return.
Give with a thankful heart, a grateful heart, and a happy heart.
Attitude has all to do with giving. You can have the attitude of I have to give, or I get to give.
Those who regard giving as something that the have to do tend also to believe that they have earned what they have received. I have heard people say, “I have spent long hours earning my money, and all the church wants to do is take it.” They do not have a cheerful heart in giving, so they give it because they have too.
Some people feel as if they are solely responsible for what they have earned and God had little to nothing to do with it.
Believe me, you did not earn what you have without God’s help. He is the one that gave you the talent and abilities that you have to make the money that you make.
The Bible explains, that God give seeds to the sower, and bread to the eaters. In other words, God gives us opportunities. Isaiah 55:10
Isaiah 55:10 says,
10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
To do the right thing is up to you, you don’t have to give with a cheerful heart.
Listen God puts people in the right place at the right time. There are no coincidences in God’s plan.
What does God require of us? An old storekeeper once said,
“I like doing business with God, He requires all of my heart, but only ten percent of my income.”
Tithe is the Lords and the offering is up to you. Giving is an act of your will.
The next lesson on generosity is
2. Generosity in Action.
Have you ever heard someone say, “if God would bless me with that kind of money I would give it to some charity, or help the needy.”
But, calls us to be generous with what we have right now, not only in the future tense.
Now there are those that are unwise in what they give.
They give to strangers and far away causes while their family and church shrivel up and starve. They make sure to tell others know of their giving and it becomes and act of pride.
Where is the balance in generosity and responsibility?
We are to give with a generous heart to the point that our giving involves self-sacrifice.
We are not to sacrifice the welfare of others. Give the luxuries that you have to others who do not have the basics.
3. Generosity in Harvest.
2 Corinthians 9:6 (KJV)
6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
To him that sows little will reap little.
Those of us city slickers have a hard time understanding this
Agricultural verse.
It is an issue of the heart, if a man will only throw out a few seeds than he will only reap a few in harvest.
We are privileged to give. God has issued us a mandate to give to His house.
Malachi 3:8-10 (KJV)
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
The Lord promises to bless us in due season, but are you willing to challenge God on His Word.
There are so many ways that the Lord wants to bless you, but if you don’t do even the little things how can He.
4. Generosity to the church.
Do you have a generous attitude towards your church? Or do you resent what you give to the church?
When it comes to talking about money some people complain about,
“that’s all that preacher does is talk about money.”
They are probably the ones that need to hear it the most, because they have never listen to it before.
A generous person doesn’t get upset when you begin to preach or teach on giving or when it is asked for.
Listen, one out of every ten verses in the Bible is about money.
16 out of 38 parables of Jesus deal with money.
500 verses in the Bible are about Prayer.
500 verses in the Bible are about Faith.
2300 verses are about the wise use of money and possessions.
The giving of money to the church is that souls might be wopn into the kingdom.
Finally generosity is not only about money.
Jesus said to those that show mercy will reap mercy.
To those that show compassion will reap compassion.
Generosity is shown when we take the time to listen to another person.
Go out of our way to make someone else’s day.
Volunteer to do a chore that usually we hate, but do it anyway to help someone else.
Generosity is the key to a healthy family environment and a great marriage, a loving home.
When we help others we grow in grace, our souls are knit together, and we are more effective as a witness
III. 4 ways for us to rewire the desire to acquire.
When it comes to the sleeper hold of greed there are4 moves that we can make.
1. Learn the secret of admiring only.
Not everything needs to be bought.
Refuse for goods to become gods.
2. Learn the secret of giving stuff away.
Is there something that you are clinging too?
Give not only the things that you don’t need but also the things that you value.
3. Learn the secret of giving towards God.
4. Realize what happens to your stuff at death.
