Are You Battling This 21st Century Greed?

Again, He seemed to say, “What you’re doing is being greedy. Technology and social media is birthing a new greed, and you’ve fallen into the snare. Your desire for accolades, invitations, relationships with those I haven’t given you, followers and whatever contentment you think you’ll gain is actually covetousness and greed, and all you’re accomplishing is a piercing of yourself through with many sorrows. Read further.”

“Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (1 Tim. 6:17-19).

He helped me understand by applying the Word to me: “Your greediness means you’re trusting in uncertain riches and not in Me. It also slices your mind in a million pieces, taking you out of your present life that I’ve given you richly to enjoy and causing stress. This stress gives the illusion that you don’t have time to give to others, that you’re busy in ways that you’re not, that you don’t have enough when you have all you need and that you must be stingy with yourself. Going somewhere else in your mind takes away time and energy that could be given to the good works right in front of you. You are rich—in love, in time, in energy, in gifts—but you act as if you’re not. Keep reading.”

“But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. Fight the good fight of faith … Now godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Tim. 6:11-12,6).

The Lord kept instructing me: “This is what matters. This is true gain, not an uptick in Twitter followers or an important email coming through or seeing how you stack up against others. And all of what’s important in regards to contentment happens in the present. Pursue godliness and pursue contentment in Me. This is great gain.”

I knew that God was absolutely right, and I felt so silly because I step so willingly into the snare of greed. But God reminded me that it isn’t silly—it’s a fight.

The new greed. That phrase kept ringing in my ears as I was seeking God about how to fight the good fight of faith. The new greed. We are after so many things, and it’s playing out on our phones and iPads and computers as much as it ever has in our material possessions and our bank accounts.

Why are we—why am I—checking our phones so often, scrolling through Facebook or Instagram? What exactly are we looking for? Why are we leaving our present reality that God has given us so richly to enjoy to go somewhere else in our mind, a place often called Comparison or Discontent? It’s something to think about, because it muddies the waters of what has real value, and because greed’s mantra is that we never have enough.

I am currently in the present reality that God has given me richly to enjoy. I have enough and am determined to not be ensnared by subtle greed and covetousness.

What about you?

Taken from Christine Hoover’s blog post “Are You Fighting the New Greed?“. www.TrueWoman.com. Used with permission.