Seven Deadly Sins – Greed Part 2
Last week we began our look at the deadly sin of Greed. We spent most of our time looking at definitions for greed, the problems it creates and warnings against it. Greed we saw is not only a rich person’s sin but a heart problem we all have where we psychopathically and self-destructively idolize the gifts at the expense of worshipping the Giver. A problem where we look for the satisfaction we can only find in God from those things that are intended to direct us to Him. Today we want to look at an action plan in tackling...
Read More
Seven Deadly Sins – Greed Part 1
One of the audiobooks I listened to last year was the book Affluenza How overconsumption is killing us and how to fight back. Here is how one reviewer summarizes the problem being addressed in this book, ‘When was the last time you bought something? Probably today, or at least in the last couple of days. But here’s a better question: when was the last time you bought something you didn’t really need? Let’s face it, most of us buy non-essential items fairly regularly. In fact, the average American spends about $18,000 a year on nonessentials. Ouch. Why do we...
Read More
Luke 12:13-21: The Parable of the Rich Fool
There is a sin which every person here struggles with that Jesus addresses next, the sin of Greed/covetousness. On a daily basis we wake up to a heart that is dissatisfied with what it has and thinks that happiness lies in having more. When on the hunt to purchase something we need, for just a few more dollars we get an upgrade with better options. Once we have bought it we get buyers regret because once we get the thing we thought we always wanted it has flaws and limitations and can’t do everything we want. We spend a...
Read More
Ecclesiastes 4:7-8; 5:10-20: The Vanity of Riches
Outline Blind slave Afflicted service Introduction All our pleasures are poisoned with pain and disappointment. This is one of the key lessons of the book of Ecclesiastes. We live in a fallen world, the characteristic phrase in Ecclesiastes for this is life ‘under the sun.’ If you have come here for a pick-me-up this morning you are going to be sorely disappointed. This morning’s message is a reality shot. I have been impressed in my devotional reading of Ecclesiastes of the fallen realities we experience and have a strong desire to bring the common sense of the bible’s wisdom...
Read More