Greed: that insatiable, inordinate desire for whatever you do not have; that drive which causes you to overindulge, to consume more than you really need; that hunger for things and pleasure which tyrannizes the heart of sinful man. The tenth commandment states: “You shall not covet.” Covetousness is a wicked disposition of heart, a root of lawlessness. It motivates men to slander, to steal, to commit adultery, to murder, and it destroys God’s worship. “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil” (1 Tim 6:10).
We promote greed. Advertisements entice us to covet. We compete by our possessions. Have you seen the bumper sticker: “He who dies with the most toys wins”? Having “the most toys” wins nothing in view of the certainty of “he who dies”! “What will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Mt 16:16).
Consider King Solomon. He had all of what this world offers, yet he said, “He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity” (Eccles 5:10). Like Solomon, you come to ask if it’s all worth it. The longings of the heart are not satisfied in money, or worldly reward. In all our abundance, we are spiritually destitute; in our affluence, we know great poverty of soul. Gluttony in its various forms destroys us. We know greed will do great harm, yet we’ve become addicted to self-indulgence. Still, “I can’t get no satisfaction.” Mick Jagger is right: greed breeds discontentment.
Rather than coveting other’s goods, we should covet Jesus Christ—to know Him, to be rich in His grace, and wealthy in His Word and Spirit. Our inner longings can only be satisfied in Christ. Having Him we lack nothing. Life is accepted without discontent because He is sovereign. “The Lord will accomplish what concerns me” (Ps 138:8). Paul’s earnest desire was “to know Him” (Phil 3:10) and in Him, he “learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” (Phil 4:11).
Are you greedy and yet sadly discontent? Do you yearn for real peace? Then come to Christ. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). He will give you a new heart with new desires that He will satisfy—now and forever.
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