is it a sin?

Question

to want to make enough money to send my kids to college, and have a nice retirement fund, so my wife and i don't have to rely on social security. in other words, when does need turn to greed?

Answer 1

Absolutely not a sin. What you want to do is a very noble pursuit. It turns to greed when the money overshadows your family or just plain consumes you.

Answer 2

Good question. If you have carefully delineated expenses and projected savings, and if you do not wait to do any giving until you meet those goals, then you'll never be stepping over the line into greed.

But once you've set up your savings or investments, I think it's important to put money into charities immediately. If you wait until you supposedly meet all your goals, you might never do it. And in the end, looking back, that would look a lot like greed... especially since anyone in a country that gives the opportunity to send their kids to college and set up a retirement fund is already experiencing a standard of living that simply isn't possible in most of the world.

There just aren't enough resources for everyone to live that well, even if we could magically spread everything out across the globe. So awareness of that, appreciation of that fortune, and giving something back as you go is, in my estimation, important.

Answer 3

Wanting better lives for your loved ones is never a sin. Need turns into greed when you have everything and still want more. And it's never bad to have a lot of money, it just matters what you do with it. If you spend it all on yourself, then that could be bad, but as long as you're helping your family and maybe even others if you have enough, then you're doing good.

Answer 4

Sassy Smart and jordannicola pointed to some excellent scriptures to read.I would just add verse 9 to Proverbs 30:7,8
We can become so wrapped up in the pursuit of financial security we forget where our real security rests.
Providing your family with accurate knowledge of God and his son,our King.Jesus,will give your family more security than you could ever buy.
Besides if you read Matthew 24 and 2 Tim. 3 and just look around, you might see that worrying about social security and retirement maybe an exercise in futility.There are bigger fish to fry,in a manner of speaking.

Answer 5

No, it is not a sin. It is a completely natural and normal goal. It is a goal that most of us, myself included, are aiming to achieve yet seems more and more out of reach. And the way things are going, the continued existence of Social Security is in question, at least in my mind.

Since I also have the same question that you do and am also struggling to find the answer, I am trying to get information from different sources. One of those sources is a book that I am currently reading which I think you may relate to. It is called "Strapped: Why America's 20 and 30 Somethings Can't Get Ahead" by Tamara Draut (c. 2005, pub. Doubleday).

This book describes the current financial problems we are all facing along with its reasons and causes and it gives a list of helpful resources at the back. More than anything, it helped me to realize that I am not alone in my struggle as well as my puzzlement about how and why it became a problem when it wasn't in recent generations. It also gives ideas on what to do about it.

I hope you find this answer helpful.

Answer 6

It is not sin to want to provide for your family. Greed is when you start loving your money. 1 Timothy 6: 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Answer 7

I think that if you are helping your kids and your wife, you are helping others, and I don't see that as greed, as long as you give also to others, giving comes in many forms, spiritual, and any thing for the glory of God, when we help spread christianity we are giving to others, as well as money, Just be kind of heart and share as much as you can, but don't let greed in riches take you away from that, because everything will cease to exist in this world, but your spirit, and the spirit is the only thing that you can become rich in with your values, kindness, and love of others.

Answer 8

It's not a sin to take care of yourself. In fact the sin would be if you chose not to. It's your money, do what you want with it. As for helping others too, that is a good thing...but there are many phony people and organizations out there. Take care of those you know need help if you can, but make sure you provide for those you love first.

Answer 9

No it is not unless you start to break Gods laws. Which include the 4th commandment which this world is deceived on.

Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
What is Sin? 1jo 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Answer 10

I don't think so. there's nothing wrong with wanting to make a good future for your kids, your wife, and yourself. it means you want what's best, which most parents and spouses do. it only turns to greed when you let it. as long as these intentions don't change and you make an honest effort for them out of love rather than for yourself just to have the money to blow on crap.

Answer 11

Biblically, your wife and children have claim upon you for their support. Therefore, it is absolutely not a sin to provide them with such support. There is a big diffrence between being greedy and wanting to provide for your family. Greed means that you put yourself and your money above others. You are not being greedy by putting your family first.