Christians, what is greed (sin?) and what is not?

Question

Recently a Christian on here stated that often what is called 'greed' (i.e. two cell phones, two cars, enormous refigerator, , etc) is really just 'ambition', not 'greed'.

As a Christian, where do you think that ambition ends and greed begins?

Do you feel you exhibit greed in any way?

How do you gauge it?

Is it pursuing, possessing or eating more than you 'need', or so much pizza you throw it away while your neghbours homeless starve?

Or is it a moving target, is it relative?

For instance, would you continue to consume beef if you knew that in order to feed the beef cattle 70% of the world's grain was being used, while other people starve due to not enough grain or forest?

SO, Cederive, you are saying that greed is ok and not sinful as long as you love 'God' more?

Nikki, thanks for the quotes, but I'm looking for opinions. How do you measure greed, personally?

Answer 1

greed or coveting is a sin if it is more important than God in your life.

I'm rich by the worlds standards. Ever been to Honduras?

But my stuff is just stuff.

I don't have a TV. don't need one.


i have Friends and a bible and i fellowship with god.

a few yrs ago i was making 200k a yr and spending it all on me. Not im making less and serving God and i have more joy and more thani need.

it is a heart condition.

Answer 2

Where does greed start and end could be the balance of the human race.

Seeking more points on Q&A's for those that rise above the rest with their points of achievement.

Some people would want more than one moble phone if they are like me. I keep on forgeting where I put one phone, so I can ring with the other to find the first phone that I have lost. Anyway it is best to have both charged while using one and the other gets charged so I can find the other.

So now both mobles are in the draw and turned off. so I now know where they are if I need one.

Now that I am thinking of what greed is about. What about the greed of all the religions that have existed or are still in existance over the last 7,000 years.

Collecting taxes to build great big stuctures of all types in an attempt to please some God or Gods in some degree with the sacrifices of the human and animal world

Then there was that part in history where the sale of indulgences by the Roman Catholic church in the act of penitence by which money was given to the church, who issured a letter of pardon for thy sins.

Now that is a way to make money today.

One could add the collections of sums of cash by religeous groups of today so they can build crystal palaces for the worship of God and the Son of the Holy Ghost.

I know some of it is used to benifit the poor and the displaced but that is what religion should be about helping those less off and not those who live in a world of wealth.

Answer 3

The American Heritage Dictionary defines greed as "An excessive desire to acquire or possess more than what one needs or deserves, especially with respect to material wealth"

I think that ambition and greed are totally two different things. Most people are not ambitious to achieve material possessions, they are ambitious to achieve a goal ... power, honor, fame, etc.

I suppose there are some who are ambitious about having material wealth, but generally ambition is considered a good thing because it is the driving force behind a lot of wonderful things in our lives. But greed is wanting to have all the stuff.

Answer 4

Greed - the love of money, the root of all evil - is a sin because it is idolatry; the worship of something before God.

Until I entered the business world, I never knew what greed was - there are people literally consumed with making money; their every waking thought is how to get more and more and more; they don't care what they have to do to get it either - lie, cheat, steal - and they can justify every single action they take in the name of greed and never think they are doing anything "wrong". People - although rarely in the business world - literally kill, murder for money.

To me, that is the sin of greed. I have money, a nice home, a nice car, a big-screen TV - but simple accumulation of material possessions is not greed IMO - it is the obsession with money, the love of money - to me that is greed.

Answer 5

I'm glad I don't have God's job. He judges the heart, not the designer shirt that the person is wearing.

Being a rich Christian is a difficult thing. There is no clear line as you mention. It is up to the individual, again, with God judging the motives behind their purchases.

Success and money have ruined a great many religious leaders. Sad, but true.

In my own life, I prefer to wear jeans and t-shirts. Neither are designer brands. For my job (financial services), I wear expensive shirts because, who would take investment advice form a guy wearing an old, faded (but very comfortable) t-shirt? Not many. In the end, I'm judged by my clients by what comes out of my mouth. My mouth is governed by my heart. Which takes us back to how God judges us.

Answer 6

Ambition is good as long as while getting we are giving.
Anything outside of Faith would seem to render sin.
If we give in Faith opposed to giving expecting something in return I believe that could be recognized as greedy giving and not be considered by faith,so sin.

jmo
peace and love

Answer 7

the following is what the Holy Bible says on those 2 matters, no longer in those words yet with the meaning an similar as close to as i can lead them to be so. Sloth: Jesus change into coaching in parables quicker or later. A parable is a secular tale with a heavenly meaning. He change into speaking about paintings ethics. the spectacular diagnosis change into this: if a guy shall no longer paintings, he shall no longer eat. Greed: Greed is the want to receive by any potential the potential to have wealth--funds, vehicles, homes, organization and such--what ever you concentration on as wealth. No guy should be criticized for making a income yet man or woman who makes a income at somebody else's rate---over charging for facilities rendered, charging for products more suitable then their genuine market cost, being severe in very just about all or any organization dealings regardless the way it outcomes others and in no way worrying. Exploiting others for income, dishonest others hoping no longer to get stuck or as contained in the inventory markets utilizing interior advice to win even as others are dropping. some evaluate all of this in simple terms sturdy organization--even though it equates with yet another declaring of Jesus. the affection of money is the basis of all evil. even as greed is more suitable significant to you than human beings it truly is an identical as loving funds to the quantity it really is the basis of all evil--you'll do what it takes to get more suitable. As for the fantastic line--the line is like an 8 lane highway. they do no longer study--one lives off of the human beings round him or those who make contributions their time to pay taxes. the different lives off the gullible, the susceptible, the reliable, the smart and those no longer so smart--it really is the game of "me win" and "you lose" and change into an very just about all eating existence variety. there is an previous declaring contained in the international of salesmen--once you cave in, upward thrust up and mud your self off and bypass on down the line. It potential do no longer supply up--success is in simple terms around the subsequent bend or the subsequent. Then there is one similar that applies to the sloth. The shame isn't in falling, the shame is in no longer getting up. Sloths enable others do the paintings in an attempt to eat, sleep and breath, a burden on society and a shame to themselves.

Answer 8

It becomes a sin when you love your money, and stuff more than God. No, I'm saying greed is a sin because that would mean you love your money or stuff more than God. That is what greed is.

Answer 9

If we are buying something, we should think, whether it is necessary or without that we can live. If you live in such a way, then we will live a real christian life. I am like that at least trying to be like that.

Answer 10

I think if you have, and you stop caring about
how much others have and dont do anything
to help people, you have reached the point
of greed