“From the least to the greatest, their lives are ruled by greed. From prophets to priests, they are all frauds.” (Jeremiah 6:13, NLT)
Jeremiah was sent as a prophet to the people of Israel and Judah at a time when the chosen people had fallen into sin. From the rulers to the common man, people were abandoning their faith, choosing instead to worship idols and foreign gods. While this idolatrous abandonment was tearing out the spiritual heart of the chosen people, Jeremiah noted other sins that settled right along with the idolatry. In the scripture for today from Jeremiah 6:13, the prophet declared that “from the least to the greatest, their lives were ruled by greed.” Even among the prophets and priests, greed had become commonplace. Jeremiah saw the greedy leaders of the chosen people as spiritual and moral “frauds”.
What many people do not understand about a moral life is that a sinful lifestyle often brings in not one sin, but multiple sins. When one sin gains supremacy in a person’s life, that person will often capitulate to other sins. When one’s morality or values are compromised, in time there will be multiple moral and spiritual lapses in judgment. A sinful life begins with one sin that overcomes the sinner. In time, that sin will enable other sins to slip in. In the same way that psychologists have proven that a person who murders once often finds it easier to murder the second or third or fourth time, after one sin it is easier to sin again unless repentance is sincere. In the time of Jeremiah, this was verified. As sinful idolatry and spiritual apathy gained way, people began to break multiple commandments. They began to ignore the Sabbath Day. Violence, stealing, and murder rates rose. And, according to the scripture for today, greed also played a part.
I find it interesting that people don’t view greed as the sin that it is. They see greed as simply a desire for more money or material possessions than one needs. They often do not see greed as a part of a sinful lifestyle. Even though Jesus said it was easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to gain entrance into heaven (Matthew 19:24), many Christians believe a person can be faithful and “a little greedy about some things” without compromising his or her morality. This line of thinking is entirely untrue and unbiblical.
The Ten Commandments even speak to the issue of greed. The commandment “Thou shalt not covet” is often forgotten as God’s statement against greed. Christians often forget that covetousness and greed are related. When you covet something another person possesses, you are willing to do whatever it takes (even if it is wrong or compromises your faith) to get it! Greed is a motivator for covetousness. Greed lays the foundation for this sin.
When studying the scriptures, the great evangelist Billy Graham wrote this: “A close relative of covetousness, greed is quite possibly the parent of more evil than any other sin. Greed cheats, robs, murders, and slanders in order to achieve its desires—and each of us is born with greed in our nature.”. With these words, Billy Graham was urging all Christians (especially those in rich countries!) to be wary of the evil of greediness. Inspired by the parable of the prodigal son, Graham added to the discussion by writing, “As long as the prodigal son sang the song of “Give me,” his lot was misery, want, loneliness, and famine. But when he changed his song to “Forgive me,” he found himself in a state of fellowship, comfort, and plenty. What song are you singing?” (p. 91, Wisdom for Each Day).
A very good pastor from my home denomination was known for excellent preaching. He could stir a congregation like few others. His church services were so packed that they had to add on to the sanctuary and other parts of the church half a dozen times during his decades-long ministry. As this pastor turned fifty-five, I saw a change in him. When he was young, he would preach a message of the need to repent, come to Jesus, reject sin, and stand against evil. However, during his latter fifties, this pastor began to preach a prosperity gospel, where if you give more to God, you will receive more from God… monetarily. This type of preaching often ignores the sins of greed and covetousness and earthly desires.
When this good pastor began to preach a different gospel message riddled with talk of money and success, Biblically minded people took notice. They challenged his thinking and began to get upset with this preaching mindset. The more they challenged this pastor, the more hardened his heart became. Just before he retired to his million-dollar home with his expensive cars in the garage, he told those who didn’t believe his preaching to just leave “his church”… they were sinners anyway. Since he retired, the church has lost many members. Today, it is nearing bankruptcy.
Ever since the days of Jeremiah, even preachers and pastors and priests and prophets have been seduced by the sin of greed. Many members of churches are enticed by the power of rich members, often fawning over them. This runs in direct contradiction to the teachings of the Bible. Jesus cautioned his followers saying, “whoever lays up treasures for himself is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21). Paul wrote to Timothy that those who “desire to be rich fall into temptation” where the greed becomes “a snare” and leads to “destruction” (1 Timothy 6:9). The book of Proverbs adds to the discussion by concluding that “Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.” (Proverbs 28:6, ESV)
Don’t let the love of money be an avenue for sin to take over in your life. Are you quick to share your wealth? Do you find it easy to help those in need? Are you jealous of those with a lot of money? Do you get angry when you can’t get what you want? From Jeremiah to Solomon to Paul to Jesus, the message is the same: greed is a danger to the soul. Don’t let greed be your downfall.
What many people do not understand about a moral life is that a sinful lifestyle often brings in not one sin, but multiple sins. When one sin gains supremacy in a person’s life, that person will often capitulate to other sins. When one’s morality or values are compromised, in time there will be multiple moral and spiritual lapses in judgment. A sinful life begins with one sin that overcomes the sinner. In time, that sin will enable other sins to slip in. In the same way that psychologists have proven that a person who murders once often finds it easier to murder the second or third or fourth time, after one sin it is easier to sin again unless repentance is sincere. In the time of Jeremiah, this was verified. As sinful idolatry and spiritual apathy gained way, people began to break multiple commandments. They began to ignore the Sabbath Day. Violence, stealing, and murder rates rose. And, according to the scripture for today, greed also played a part.
I find it interesting that people don’t view greed as the sin that it is. They see greed as simply a desire for more money or material possessions than one needs. They often do not see greed as a part of a sinful lifestyle. Even though Jesus said it was easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to gain entrance into heaven (Matthew 19:24), many Christians believe a person can be faithful and “a little greedy about some things” without compromising his or her morality. This line of thinking is entirely untrue and unbiblical.
The Ten Commandments even speak to the issue of greed. The commandment “Thou shalt not covet” is often forgotten as God’s statement against greed. Christians often forget that covetousness and greed are related. When you covet something another person possesses, you are willing to do whatever it takes (even if it is wrong or compromises your faith) to get it! Greed is a motivator for covetousness. Greed lays the foundation for this sin.
When studying the scriptures, the great evangelist Billy Graham wrote this: “A close relative of covetousness, greed is quite possibly the parent of more evil than any other sin. Greed cheats, robs, murders, and slanders in order to achieve its desires—and each of us is born with greed in our nature.”. With these words, Billy Graham was urging all Christians (especially those in rich countries!) to be wary of the evil of greediness. Inspired by the parable of the prodigal son, Graham added to the discussion by writing, “As long as the prodigal son sang the song of “Give me,” his lot was misery, want, loneliness, and famine. But when he changed his song to “Forgive me,” he found himself in a state of fellowship, comfort, and plenty. What song are you singing?” (p. 91, Wisdom for Each Day).
A very good pastor from my home denomination was known for excellent preaching. He could stir a congregation like few others. His church services were so packed that they had to add on to the sanctuary and other parts of the church half a dozen times during his decades-long ministry. As this pastor turned fifty-five, I saw a change in him. When he was young, he would preach a message of the need to repent, come to Jesus, reject sin, and stand against evil. However, during his latter fifties, this pastor began to preach a prosperity gospel, where if you give more to God, you will receive more from God… monetarily. This type of preaching often ignores the sins of greed and covetousness and earthly desires.
When this good pastor began to preach a different gospel message riddled with talk of money and success, Biblically minded people took notice. They challenged his thinking and began to get upset with this preaching mindset. The more they challenged this pastor, the more hardened his heart became. Just before he retired to his million-dollar home with his expensive cars in the garage, he told those who didn’t believe his preaching to just leave “his church”… they were sinners anyway. Since he retired, the church has lost many members. Today, it is nearing bankruptcy.
Ever since the days of Jeremiah, even preachers and pastors and priests and prophets have been seduced by the sin of greed. Many members of churches are enticed by the power of rich members, often fawning over them. This runs in direct contradiction to the teachings of the Bible. Jesus cautioned his followers saying, “whoever lays up treasures for himself is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21). Paul wrote to Timothy that those who “desire to be rich fall into temptation” where the greed becomes “a snare” and leads to “destruction” (1 Timothy 6:9). The book of Proverbs adds to the discussion by concluding that “Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.” (Proverbs 28:6, ESV)
Don’t let the love of money be an avenue for sin to take over in your life. Are you quick to share your wealth? Do you find it easy to help those in need? Are you jealous of those with a lot of money? Do you get angry when you can’t get what you want? From Jeremiah to Solomon to Paul to Jesus, the message is the same: greed is a danger to the soul. Don’t let greed be your downfall.