Proverbs of a 42 yr. old man

A greedy person is an idolater. Wow, that shocked me at first when I read that in Colossians 3:5. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Amen. We are to put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within us. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. There is something evil that lurks within that if we don't keep it in check, it's like we are worshipping idols. People have been worshiping idols since the beginning of the fall of mankind. Idolatry. This ancient yet modern sin fuels countless heartaches and frustrations. It destroys jobs and relationships and distances us from God, the only One worthy of worship. The only One able to fulfill our deepest needs and grant us the joy and peace we seek. When life feels uncertain or our longings go unmet, it’s easy and comforting, momentarily, to grasp on to temporary fillers. If only we had more money, more friends, more experiences, or achievements, then we’d be happy and content. But this type of mentality leads to idolatry by shifting our focus off of Jesus and placing it instead on the temporary and insufficient pleasures of today.

Whatever we treasure more than God, whatever drives our thoughts and actions, becomes an idol, and these idols dull our spiritual hearing and harden our hearts to the things of God. There is this desperate urge in us because of our sinful flesh to want more. Its insatiable and cannot be tamed by man but only the Spirit of Christ. Greed represents this so well because its more than just material things. We know those who hoard, living with their barns stacked up so high. Jesus says in the parable of the rich fool, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ Amen. This is a monster, the void of greed in our hearts and lives. It's like a black hole in us that will never be satisfied without the contentment of Christs life in us. Scriptures say to not let sin reign in our mortal bodies so that we obey its evil desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Greed is the fire that ignites all wicked desires in us to excess. Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” The worries of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for anything else triggers greed in our hearts. The leech has two suckers that cry out, “More, more!” Yes. Greed has twins, each named "Give me!" There are three or four things that are never satisfied: the grave, the barren womb, the thirsty desert, the blazing fire. The fire of sexual desire never says, “Enough. But in Christ we have enough. The Apostle Paul says in 2 Cor. 12:10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Amen. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. This because the power the flesh that lurks is no match to the Holy Spirit living within us. Greed and pride originated in Heaven with Lucifer called the devil now. Our nature of sin we inherited and will destroy us if we are not submitted to Christ. Because of the glory and excellence of Jesus, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. Jesus gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. This world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. Listen to Paul here as I close starting in Phil. 3:13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Verse 17, dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example. For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. Amen. And there is my fellow reader. A greedy person is an idolater. Greed is a worship of your sinful appetites to which end in sin and death. Jesus came to give us new life and desires to live from that will never end. But the fruit of the Spirit of Christ in us is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. The idol of greed shatters in pieces as we learn to live in the abundant yet contentment life Jesus offers us. Greed is wanting more than what God has given and allotted for you. It is wanting God to be your genie in a bottle. Than to be a bottle that houses the presence of God.

Pray 1 Cor. 6:9-10

https://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/6-9.htm

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What is an Idol? Idolatry Meaning from the Bible & Examples | Bible Study Tools