Part 3: GREED

Greed - Wanting greedily what belongs to another.

GREED - 1214. batsa', baw-tsah'; a prim. root to break off, i.e. (usually) plunder; fig. to finish, or (intrans.) stop:--(be) covet (-ous), cut (off), finish, fulfill, gain (greedily), get, be given to [covetousness], greedy, perform, be wounded.

Holman's Bible Dictionary

GREED An excessive or reprehensible desire to acquire; covetousness. The greed of Eli's sons for the best part of the sacrifices disqualified them from the priesthood (1 Sam. 2:29). Hosea condemned priests who were greedy for the people's iniquity (4:8 NRSV), that is, greedy for the sin offerings. Jesus warned against all types of greed (Luke 12:15; KJV covetousness). The Pauline standard for Christian ministry gave no pretext for greed (1 Thess. 2:5; 1 Tim 3:3,8). Greed marked the Gentile or pagan way of life (Eph. 4:19).

Psa 17:12 KJV "Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places."

How is a lion greedy of his prey? Well, the best way to explain is by saying, "The next time you see a lion with a T-bone steak in his mouth, go ask him if you can have some." That's greed.

Isa 56:11 KJV "Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter."

My dog Bogie is very greedy. He can never have enough. If I even rustle a bag in the kitchen, he can be anywhere and he will suddenly be at my side watching for a treat. There's never a time when he doesn't show up.

Greed is self-serving. No one is ever greedy for something for someone else. Someone once asked a billionaire why he wanted more money when he was already rich, and he answered, "Because its there." No matter how much of anything a greedy person has, he has an insatiable appetite to want to more. Greed is covetousness, with covetousness being a foundation stone in all of the seven deadly sins.

FINAL WORD

If there was ever a test of coveting or not, it is found in Luke 4:

Luke 4:5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Jesus had it all offered to Him. He turned down what the New World Order wants: the World and all that is in it. Yet, Jesus turned it down. And on the way to Jerusalem to be crucified, He could say,

John 14:30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.

Covetoussness' power over man was broken at Calvary.

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ENVY

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