“That’s [me first] the essence of greed. You don’t actually have to have extra to be greedy. As long as you plan to spend whatever comes your way on yourself, you’re a candidate. . . . you’ll find it next to impossible to keep greed from taking root in your heart.”- Andy Stanley
In Chapter 16 (“The Power of Generosity”) of Enemies of the Heart, Andy Stanley begins with a question. It’s a question, Pastor Stanley stresses, we all need to ask ourselves from time to time. That question = Why do I have so much?
Thus, Andy exhorts you to momentarily shift your focus from your potential possessions and income to consider your actual P & I. Chances are, the author adds, you possess considerably more than the rest of the world. And, most likely, you own more than your parents had at your age.
Therefore, we need to slow down once in a while and force ourselves to wrestle with Andy’s question. Because our consumer-driven culture keeps us, in Andy’s words, laser-focused on what we deserve, but still need to acquire. As a result, we focus on future consumption. Hence, that leaves us little margin for generosity.
Furthermore, if you feel uncomfortable answering Andy’s question, think about this. When you didn’t have enough, did you hesitate to ask God about your lack? Probably not, Andy believes. So, if you’re now on the other side, question God about why you possess more than enough.
In conclusion, Andy presents some ‘reasons’ God’s provided more than we need, to:
- ensure that your children have everything they need (the world’s full of people whose problems started when they got money they didn’t earn).
- lean on your accumulated assets for peace (peace = a fruit of the Spirit).
- elevate your standard of living (creates artificially induced financial pressure).
- allow you to retire early (need to be generous with money as well as time).
Today’s question: Where can you find traces of the essence of greed in your life? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “The manager of someone else’s assets”
