THE MADNESS FOR MORE

We’re living in a time of “madness!” Yes, there is Islamic Jihad but I’m talking the MADNESS FOR MORE!

The Bible says, “Watch out for all kinds of greed!” Greed is an obsession for more than one needs and an excessive anxiety over money and materialism.

This is a particular challenge in our generation where it seems everyone is trying to sell you something. There is a subtle message that accompanies the ads, it is that one’s well being / even identity and value – is based on “things” — “things” that we don’t really need, but are really just “greeds!”

When I think of what happened 2,000 years ago in Jerusalem that led to the unjust crucifixion of the Lord– the main reason that I see was simply greed! There were power-brokers in Jerusalem who were making a killing off of the worship in the Temple. Jesus had spotlighted the mismanagement saying that the Temple had become a “den of thieves …” I believe those “thieves” intoxicated by “greed’s” were threatened and did their best to stamp out the Light of the world.

The MADNESS FOR MORE. Greed. Materialism. They are NO friend’s of the Family. They are no friend’s of Marriage. They are no friend’s of the ministry of the Gospel, and the church. Greed has a consuming/ intoxicating influence, that get’s your focus on the temporal rather then the eternal and it is consuming. It consumes days, and weeks and years. The Bible calls it the “pride of life!” It trying to derive one’s value and significance and identity based on “things” and it is an endless pit that never delivers.

When the rich lost man Zacchaeus, the chief tax-collector of Jericho, welcomed Jesus into his home it wasn’t long before the issue of greed and materialism and the madness for more came to the surface. Zacchaeus promised to give ½ of his money to the poor and repay any injustice. When Jesus came into his home and came into his life — the idol of greed and materialism was broken and replaced with Jesus!

Similarly, when the Lord has his rightful place in our life money goes back to just being that, money. We’re no longer driven by greed’s. Money now becomes a tool for doing good and serving people. We learn that we have enough to meet our needs!