THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, GREED

 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023 GREED

Oh oh, I’m writing about money and greed today - that sounds like a troublesome topic!!!

How about this from Matthew 26:

“While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”

Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.”

*****

Recently a School District Superintendent left her position and took a different position in a larger district.  She did quit her position, but she will continue to get paid until the end of the year due to her contract.

Likewise, a college football coach (with a multi-year guaranteed contract) was fired.  He will receive millions from the previous college because of the control.

“Outrage” was the (few) cries I heard.  “Why are we paying for somebody who is not an employee anymore?”  

Good question.  Maybe because when the superintendent was doing great things, the school board gave her a new contract with generous benefits?  Maybe when the coach was winning games and taking the team to bowl games he got a new contract.

That could be true.  But, who am I to say how a board might give a valued leader a nice contract?

*****

The old statement “You can’t take it with you” refers to death.  “Naked I came from my mother’s womb,  and naked I will depart”. Job 1:21.

Sure the rich can pass their money on to children and heirs through their heirs but eventually, it will “trickle down”.  

*****

But, greed happens. (From: https://www.flextalk.org/5-problems-that-come-with-greed/)

-Greed will make you jealous because you’ll always compare yourself to others – and someone else will always have more than you.  You never have enough.  You don’t have the biggest car, the biggest house, a personal (and the biggest) jet, or enough staff (servants) to take care of you. 

- If you’re a greedy person, you’ll eventually end up lying and cheating to get more for yourself.  Greed comes with a deep passion, and an unholy drive to get to the top in one way or another.  Lying and cheating justify the methods to get there!! 

- A jealous, dishonest person will only have relationships with people who can help him get more, and those relationships are always shallow. Greedy people will use you to get their goals for more money.  

- Greed makes you lose sight of your true mission in life or business because your focus is on yourself and your money.  “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10)

- At the end of the day, you’ll never be satisfied with life if your heart is full of greed because if your goal is always to have more, you’ll never get there.  You can never get enough if you are greedy.  

*****

I think I’ve had some aspects of greed.  (Maybe not to the “take over the world” greed, but personal greed).  I hope I have lost that greed in my transition - but can one ever stop wanting more?  While I was working, many summers I worked as a consultant/programmer for Citibank and did other consulting.  Was that greed, or just a little bit more into our savings account - or just want to keep busy.

I’ve been doing part-time jobs (elections clerk, substitute teacher), to both earn a little money and to keep myself busy.  I’ve been working for the past year-and-one-half at a senior living facility (including memory care, assisted living, and skilled nursing).  I don’t like to be idle - or not too much, or I won’t get my daily blogs written!!! <grin>.  Or I will end up doing more jigsaw puzzles.  I  have goals for the money - to increase my endowment at Dakota State University. 

I don’t know and won’t judge wealthy people.  Did they get their money dishonestly?  I don’t know - and that is not a matter of my decision.  They too will die and If I understand the concept there will be a “reckoning”. 

So, be at peace in the world. Hebrews 13:5 says “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

LOVE WINS!!!
LOVE TRANSFORMS!!!

KAREN ANNE WHITE, FEBRUARY 23, 2023