Bethany Lutheran Church

Seven Deadly Sins | Greed

March 22, 2023 Pastor Anthony Celia
Bethany Lutheran Church
Seven Deadly Sins | Greed
Show Notes

Greed is not gluttony that indulges to the point of bursting .. greed pursues accumulation. Greed is about a desire to possess more than you need. In a way, it is a type of worship. We start to adore and value the things we possess and in a sense, they end up possessing us. Jesus addresses greed more than any other sin maybe because of this reality. This is why we are called to be merciful. We are called to give to others because of how much God gives to us. Each little bit of extra that falls into our lap is an invitation not to store up but to give.

Luke 12:13-21 (ESV)
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Matthew 5:1-2, 7 (ESV)
Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.