Finding Contentment In A World Built On Greed

Michael Douglas, as ruthless corporate raider Gordon Gekko in the movie Wall Street, said it best: “Greed…. for lack of a better word…. is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms…. greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge…. has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed…. you mark my words…. will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA.”

While this movie was made in 1987, it defines our times today. It doesn’t take a keen observer to see that the reality for most is that greed is deemed the savior of the world. In reality, however, greed will not save anything or anybody, but ultimately drives it into the ground and kills it.

While Michael Douglas may have best described our culture, Jesus challenges us best to a better way: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:19-21)

Unfortunately, the church has not just been ineffective in this cultural arena, it has in fact contributed to much of it. The health and wealth gospel has fueled this fire for several decades now. Who preaches humility any more or sacrificial giving? How often do we consider the reality that non of the early disciples or apostles, including Jesus even remotely lived close to the lap of luxury!

It is such a slippery concept. How much is too much? I can go to someone's house and see their fully equipped games room and ask myself, is that really necessary? Isn't that a bit much? And then when you come to my house you think to yourself, “Why” when you see my big screen T.V. and two Mac computers or five shotguns. We are pretty good at seeing each other's greed, and horrible at seeing our own. I say pretty good, because I think that it’s getting harder to recognize greed in this time and place. I would argue that we are what we do. And much of what we do is characterized by self centered greed.

Greed is essentially and fundamentally faith in oneself, which ultimately is a lack of faith in the provision of Abba Father that loves us. After all, if we had faith in the provision of Father for our daily bread, then why would we want to be greedy? Why would we need to be greedy?

In light of the current economic and political climate, where personal opinions and blame is easy to find, these are good questions. In light of the season where we want far more than we need and spend far too much, these are good questions.