Sorry it's been so long (I guess I'm talking to Lize, Coop, Nikki, and maybe Mack)
And you probably all heard this anyhow.
But if anyone or 2 other people read my blog, here's my poem on Greed.
More. More. More.
I want more.
I need more.
Mine. Mine. Mine
I want mine.
It’s all mine.
I gotta have it.
I need it.
I really want it.
I’ll be happy when…
I get a house.
A bigger house
A car
A bigger car
A SUV
A crossover SUV
When I have a big bank account.
When I have a million dollars.
Sound familiar?
We’ll never be happy.
Sounds like we’ll always be greedy.
In fact, the more we want
The more we usually “need”
Or think we need.
I must confess
Sometimes I don’t pass the test.
Because I obsess
And can’t get any rest
That is unless
I fill my treasure chest.
But is that God’s best?
Oh to be content.
To have everything you ever want or need.
But the desire to have it all is basically greed.
Did I just say having things was Greed?
NO, but
If the shoe fits.
If it walks like a duck.
Talks like a duck.
What is it?
Let me put it this way.
How badly do you want something?
Do you always think about it?
Can you not sleep because you always dream about it?
What’s the root of your desire?
Something catches your eye.
You absolutely love it.
You put nothing else above it.
There. You started to covet.
Do you want a new car because the last one died?
Or because your neighbor got a new one
And it’s a shot to your pride?
Do you start to feel sour.If you don’t get more power?
When did having enough become not good enough?
When is enough not enough?
Greed is wanting more when we have enough.
Greed is all about me.
But Nate,
Greed’s not that bad.
Don’t tell me what I can’t have.
I’m not mowing people down.
I’m not sleeping around.
What’s wrong with wanting more?
What? I can’t walk through a store?
It’s not like it’s one of the 10 commandments.
Ahem….and I quote.
Number 1. Thou shall have no other Gods before me.
If you desire something more than God, it’s a god.
And it’s greed.
Number 10. Thou shall not covet.
It doesn’t matter how much you think you love it.
God bookends the big 10 by talking about greed.
The Bible is loaded with stories of greed.
How about Eve, what did she need?
She could have eaten from any other tree.
Why did she need to eat from that tree?
Then there’s David, King of Jerusalem.
Why did he need more?
Then his eyes spied the woman on the rooftop next door
He was King of the Land
He took the wife of another man
Or Ananias and Sapphira
And the greed they tried to hide.
God would have none of it.
They just up and died.
Then there’s the infamous Judas
He was greedy and dirty
He sold out his friend and Lord
For the mere sum of 30
But what about Job?
He lost it all.
He lost his cattle and cows.
He had angry friends and an angry spouse
He heard his wife say curse God and die
But he looked her in the eye
And said….Why?
He was content to let God be God
And in the end… He got double!
For trusting God through the trouble.
It’s easy to be content with the good.
Though we barely do that.
But if God has other plans
Are you content with the bad?
People think greed effects those who are wealthy.
Or trying to be rich.
But that’s not the case.
Greed effects every person.
Every race.
Every face.
Greed is like any other sin
It usually starts small
When you want the 3rd piece of pie
And you’re already full.
It’s a slippery slope
It’s really a rope a dope
We go around wishing
Wanting to get the newest edition
We tell ourselves its ambition.
And we make it our mission.
But listen,
What are we really missing
Life’s not a competition
To see who can do the most addition.
Why do we try to grab all we can
In the time that we have
But what does it profit a man
To gain what he can.
And lose his soul.
Ain’t it funny
How money has become our honey.
It’s sweet
It’s neat.
We can get lots of treats.
But can we lay it at the feet.
Do I need to repeat?
Money’s not bad.
Money’s not evil.
But the love of money
Is the root of all evil.
Shouldn’t we be content.
Shouldn’t we just trust God.
Didn’t he tell us he’s more than enough?
So I’ll ask you again.
When all the time is spent.
When all the money is spent.
And you can barely pay the rent.
Are you content?
If not, You need to repent.
Your heart beats only so many times in your lifetime.
What does yours beat for?
Does it beat for more?
Or does it beat for the Lord?
