I Don't Want To Be Greedy!

We started a new series at Oasis last Sunday that is going to be really, really good... We're calling it "7", and we are focusing on the 7 Deadly Sins, each week we are taking one of the Seven Deadly Sins and talking about them from a biblical perspective and how they creep their way into our lives.

Sunday we started with GREED. I was so challenged in my study time because I was reminded that scripture warns us to "watch out for all kinds of GREED". I told our church Sunday that for a lot of us it's not hard to be generous rather than giving when it comes to our finances. We see someone in need and we give to them, we buy them dinner or we buy them lunch. We give a homeless person a handout or we know someone who has lost a job so we try and help them out. But in the other areas of our life, we may be or becoming GREEDY.

I admitted Sunday that if a needy person walked in off the street and asked me for $10 I would give them $15 if I had it but if that same person required some of my time, I would be hesitant to be generous, because I am not greedy in a financial or monitory way but I believe I am GREEDY with my time.

I wonder what other areas we may have allowed GREED to very slyly, or slowly creep into our lives. I wonder if we are GREEDY with our prayers or with our time or maybe we are GREEDY with the way we drive. I know that tendency and temptation exists for me.

I challenged our people Sunday to not be so GREEDY... That if someone comes up and says "nice watch"... then take it off and give it to them! If someone says, "man, that's a nice ________"... then give it to them! Be overly GENEROUS!!

As leaders, we strive to set an example for our people to not be GREEDY but rather to be GENEROUS, and we may be doing that in a financial way, but I have learned that GREED is not just about MONEY but it's in all facets of life.

ARE YOU GREEDY OR GENEROUS?

Then He said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of Greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." - Luke 12:15