How much is enough?

Having wealth is not inherently sinful

Job was called “the greatest of all the people of the East” and he was righteous before God. ()

Abraham was “very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold” () and God made an everlasting covenant with him ()

Joseph became a very rich man through the sovereign plan of God ()

Greed, however, is condemned throughout the Scriptures

Definition of greed — excessive desire to acquire or possess more (especially more material wealth) than one needs or deserves.

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Jesus warned His disciples about accumulation of earthly riches

Matthew 6:19–21 ESV

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Greed brings strife and trouble to one’s home and to oneself

Greed brings strife and trouble to one’s home

Greed brings strife and trouble to one’s home

“Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household, but he who hates bribes will live ()

“A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the LORD will be enriched” ()

Remember the account of Ananias and Sapphira in the NT (). They were greedy and lied to the Holy Spirit, and He killed them.

Solomon gives additional wisdom in the arena of greed in the Book of Ecclesiastes. He relates how a greedy person is never satisfied. The answer to the question, “how much is enough?” is always just a little bit more. (Ecclesiastes 5:10-12)

Ecc 5

Greed often leads to poverty instead of wealth

Example: Scott London was an audit partner at a large accounting firm making $900,000 but that wasn’t enough. He engaged in the illegal activity of insider trading to make another $70,000. He got caught and ended up in jail.

“One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.” ()

“A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know that poverty will come upon him.” ()

The Christian response to material possessions is to live with integrity and be content with what God sees fit to give

“Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.” ()

We work to make money in order to provide for our families, and there is nothing wrong with making a profit. A business that never turns a profit will soon close the doors. If God so favors us with wealth, we are to use that wealth to convey a blessing on others, but we are not to seek to become wealthy for money’s sake

“Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.” ()

One of my favorite Proverbs on this subject is found near the end of the book

Proverbs 30:7–9 ESV

Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

Proverbs

“Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “who is the LORD?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.” (Prov. 30:7-9)