GREEDY

GREEDY

When I hear this word, maybe you think of Ebeneezer Scrooge? I tend to think of a spoiled child, because children are greedy by nature. They don't like to share. Children aren't born with the nature to share, they have to be taught to share. You ever wonder why your kid just won't willingly share as a toddler? But you have to start young teaching them to share.

Our sinful nature is GREEDY. We want it all. We want what is ours and we really want what is yours too. The sinful human nature is in direct conflict with the nature that God desires for us.

God wants His children to share. Share their gifts, their time, they resources, including finances for His glory, not ours. That's a tough concept for many of us to grasp, even those of us who maybe have been raised in church or even been a christian for awhile.

It is not that God wants us to be poor or not have anything, or God is selfish and wants to have everything. It's that God is trying to teach us and establish in us the gift of giving. That we are more blessed when we give, and that giving really has to do with attitude more than it does anything. And most of all God DESIRES to use us for His Glory!

God wants to create in us a spirit of unselishness and a heart for giving to others. God wants us to enjoy our gifts and things in this life, but He doesn't want our life to consist of what we have and what we can obtain as much as He wants our life to consist or enjoying the things we have and sharing them.

If you look at it, ALL we have is from God. Whatever materials blessings we have in this world, are directly from God, He is simply letting us use them. Just like any good parent who gets their child a gift, God wants us to not be selfish, but to share that gift with others.

You may be wealthy and have lots of money, God wants you to enjoy that blessing, but share it with others. You may have the gift of music or singing, God wants you to enjoy that gift, but use it for His glory as well. You may have the gift of compassion, or serving, or teaching, or whatever, no matter the gifts or blessings you have, do not keep them to yourself. Use them, enjoy them, but more importantly share them.

There is no room in Heaven for selfish people. Like most children who are stingy, greedy, and selfish, what happens? A good parent takes away the toy, disciplines the child, until they can learn to share. I think God works the same way, if we don't use our gifts for God and are selfish with them, I think God will take them.

Don't be a greedy, selfish, spoiled child with the gifts, talents, and resources God has blessed you with. Enjoy them, be thankful for them, but most of all share them!

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

2 Corinthians 9:7(NIV)