Is greed bad, isn't there a good greed? What does the Bible say?
"For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person - such a person is an idolater- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." Ephesians 5:5. NIV.
EMPHASAS
The Bible verse quoted starts out with a strong statement that, "of this you can be sure." This is like saying there is no doubt, or it is set in stone.
A FAMILY OF BAD
The greedy person is grouped with the immoral and the impure. This is saying they are all equal, and equally bad. An immoral person rejects God's standards for him and an impure person is associated with pollution of sin.
IDOLOTER
An idolater worships and serves a false god. It is not just someone who bows before and idol but someone who lives for the false god. Money can be a false god. We can serve money and become its slave.
The idolater looks to the idol to protect and provide not the True God. We can be idolaters regarding money when we think a large sum of money will protect us and provide our needs. We are robbing ourselves of God's best blessing by looking to the false god of money.
IRONY OF INHERITANCE REJECTION
In being greedy for earthly treasure the person passes up a treasure that is greater beyond imagining- an inheritance in the kingdom of God.
"For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person - such a person is an idolater- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." Ephesians 5:5. NIV.
EMPHASAS
The Bible verse quoted starts out with a strong statement that, "of this you can be sure." This is like saying there is no doubt, or it is set in stone.
A FAMILY OF BAD
The greedy person is grouped with the immoral and the impure. This is saying they are all equal, and equally bad. An immoral person rejects God's standards for him and an impure person is associated with pollution of sin.
IDOLOTER
An idolater worships and serves a false god. It is not just someone who bows before and idol but someone who lives for the false god. Money can be a false god. We can serve money and become its slave.
The idolater looks to the idol to protect and provide not the True God. We can be idolaters regarding money when we think a large sum of money will protect us and provide our needs. We are robbing ourselves of God's best blessing by looking to the false god of money.
IRONY OF INHERITANCE REJECTION
In being greedy for earthly treasure the person passes up a treasure that is greater beyond imagining- an inheritance in the kingdom of God.
