Possessions are great, but peace is better. In this message, Lead Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares how we can overcome greed.
1 John 2:16 “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure (lust of the flesh), a craving for everything we see (the
lust of the eyes), and pride in our achievements and possessions (the pride
of life). These are not from the Father but are from this world.”
Lust, Greed, and Pride are the three traps the enemy has set for us in this world. Or, feel more, have more, be more. But God is saying “I am more than enough.”
Greed is an unhealthy pursuit of money, wealth and possessions. Greed is more than you need.
The world says you have “money problems” when you don’t have money.
The Bible says you have “money problems” when money has you.
Three things the bible says about greed:
Greed can derail your walk with Christ.
1 Tim 6:9-10 “But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”
How do you know if you love money? If you’re willing to depart from your convictions to get it.
Greed focuses your heart on the wrong thing.
Luke 12:15,21 “… Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
It’s foolish to save money and not save your soul.
Greed changes our focus from the eternal to the temporary.
You don’t want to have a full living room, but an empty life.
Greed will never be satisfied, and greed will never satisfy you.
Ecclesiastes 5:10
Once created, an appetite doesn’t go away, it grows stronger.
How to defeat greed:
1 Timothy 6:17-19
1. Don’t be proud.
Psalm 49:6-7″They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches. Yet they cannot redeem
themselves from death by paying a ransom to God.”
2. Don’t trust in money.
Psalm 20:7″Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”
3. Enjoy!
Ecclesiastes 5:19
A greedy person can’t enjoy anything because they always have their eye on the next thing. The cure for greed is not less stuff, but more Jesus.
4. Do good.
2 Corinthians 9:8
Be a helper, not a hoarder.
5. Store up treasure in heaven.
Luke 12:33
If you gather here, you store up here; if you give it here, you store up there. Your home in heaven will be furnished with what you gave on earth.
Instead of accumulating more stuff, accumulate good works.
Are you caught in the world’s trap of greed?