A few years ago, our pastor Todd got the stomach flu. Todd was so sick. His head was pounding, his stomach was rumbling. He was hoping the doctor could give him something to help him so he is sitting with a bunch of people in the waiting room praying that the nurse would call his name next when a mother and her little boy. From the looks of things, it appeared that the mom had the same thing Todd had because she was holding a trash can in her lap. Her son, his name was Johnny, appeared to be in tip top shape because he was running all over the place making airplane noises and other loud sounds.
Little Johnny ran around and around getting louder and louder and louder. This went on for a couple of minutes and then Johnny stopped running around because Johnny saw what was in the middle of the room. In the middle of the room in the middle of the table sat a little candy jar.
Johnny immediately ran over to the candy jar and stuck his fat little hand inside of it. This candy jar wasn’t big enough to put an adult person's hand into it. You had to pour a piece of candy into your hand if you wanted one. Johnny must have been about four years old and his hand was barely big enough to get into that candy jar but he squeezed his hand in there and grabbed a handful of candy. The problem is now little Johnny can’t get his hand out holding onto all that candy.
He looks at his mom for assistance and she mouths the words “one piece”. Johnny doesn’t want just one piece of candy; he wants the whole thing. Shock of all shocks little Johnny ignores his mom and continues to try to pull his hand out with a fist full of candy. He begins to swing his arm around in a circle trying to free his hand with a fist full of candy. He walks over to the wall and begins to pound the candy jar against the wall over and over again hoping somehow to free his hand with a fist full of candy.
Johnny begins to cry, I mean scream, “I want candy, I want candy.” Everyone in the waiting room is looking to the mom to do something. I don’t know if she is too sick or just too tired but she is not making much of an attempt to control her little demon child. Todd’s head is pounding, his stomach is cramping and this kid is screaming so our pastor got up and said, “Johnny let go of the candy.”
He screamed “no”. Todd said, “Johnny, if you let go of the candy you can have your hand back and then I will give you some candy. Listen to me. Let go of the candy and then I will give you candy.” He cried, “I want candy, I need candy.” Now let me ask you a question.
Did Johnny have the candy or did the candy have Johnny?
We are going to take a look at greed and by the end, I want you to honestly answer this question. Does greed have a hold of me?
We live in a world that craves more. We all have been trained since we were little kids that more always makes things better. Can you remember a time when you looked around your bedroom as a kid and said, “I have enough.”
We have needs. I need that outfit. I need those shoes. I need that cell phone; I need that game and if I don’t get it, I am going to die.
It is amazing to me how many people’s self-esteem are wrapped around what they own. Their valuables determine their value as a person. That’s why people will pay more money for a label or a certain brand.
Let me ask you something. Is the way you feel about yourself connected to what you have or don’t have? Be honest. Do your valuables determine your value?
How do we stop living this way? How can we battle against greed?
CONTENTMENT
Paul wrote, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:11-12
Contentment is being satisfied and at peace with what you have and who you are.
I want you to see two things in this passage. First, Paul had to learn to be content. Contentment does not come naturally to us. He had to learn how to be content. Paul is saying I had to learn when enough was enough.
Secondly, Paul being content had nothing to do with his outward circumstances. His contentment was not based on what he had or did not have. He said he was content regardless of the externals happening around him because his contentment came from his relationship with God.
Paul didn’t give a rip about keeping up with what everybody else had because he was living his life for a higher purpose. He was living his life for Jesus because Paul found that his relationship with Jesus more than satisfied his longing for the next big thing. Jesus was enough to him.
Is Jesus enough for us?
1 Timothy 6:6 says, “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing we will be content with that."
Will we? Contentment begins when we are thankful for what we have and we stop spending our time consumed with what we want. Contentment will break the back of greed and so will:
GENEROSITY
Do you remember what your mother told you when you had two cookies and your brother or sister didn’t have any? What would your mom always say to you? She would always say “share one of those cookies with your sister”, right? I mean watching someone eat two cookies in the presence of someone who doesn’t have any cookies doesn’t seem right does it. Maybe that’s why the Bible says,
"Give and it will be given to you." Luke 6:38
"He who gives will lack nothing." Proverbs 28:27
"Whoever sows generously will also reap generously." 2 Corinthians 9:6
Can you imagine seeing the world from God’s point of view? Imagine being able to see everyone in the world who has two cookies and those who have none, all at the same time. What would you say to those with two cookies if you were God? Would you tell them to share?
If God has blessed us with more than we need, the reason is, He wants us to share it with those who are in need.
How do you know if you are a greedy person?
Ask yourself these questions.
When is enough enough? We have to realize that stuff only satisfies for a short amount of time and then the thrill is gone. We have to stop putting so much meaning in what we want or we are going to end up completely miserable.
We have to ask ourselves why are we spending so much on ourselves? Who are we trying to impress?
I read about a family that made a commitment to support five orphaned children in Haiti above and beyond their normal tithes and offerings. The monies they provided each month allowed these children to be fed, clothed and educated. It also meant that the family would have to sacrifice. They weren’t going to be able to get all the latest gadgets and toys yet the family stayed true to their commitment for more than a decade.
One day the father learned that his company was going to send Him to Haiti on business. He’d be able to take the entire family with him and they would finally get to meet the five children they had been supporting.
On their second day in the country, they rented a jeep and drove out to the village where the friends lived. When they arrived, the children were waiting in front of the school building. They knew the family that supported them was coming to see them so they got to the school early and waited anxiously to see the Americans who loved them so much.
When the jeep stopped the five children ran to the family and embraced them. The Haitian children gave each of the family members some Christmas ornaments that they had made from some twigs. After a long visit the family got back in the jeep and headed back.
As they rode back the two American children sat in silence. The father was worried that maybe his two kids regretted their decision to support these kids. Finally, the father broke the silence and asked them what was wrong.
The daughter immediately spoke up. “Nothing is wrong dad. I was just thinking that there is nothing we could have done with our money over the last ten years that would have made us happier than we are now.”
Having the nicest clothes or the most apple products isn’t going to give your life meaning. That’s not what we are here for. We are here for bigger things than stuff. We are here to make a difference for Jesus so do you have a hold of your stuff or does your stuff have a hold on you.
Let’s think about 2 things to close:
1. When was the last time you gave to someone or something other than yourself and how does that make you feel? Maybe it was recently, and you know you experienced joy and true satisfaction from helping someone else? Or, does that question sting a little? Because you know it’s been a long time since you chose to bless someone else with what God has provided for you?
Then that leads to our second question:
2. How will you give to others today, this week, this month, and in your life? How and when will you choose to truly bless those around you and not allow greed to have control on you?
©2024 Sagebrush Church
