Greed, Which Amounts to Idolatry
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Greed, Which Amounts to Idolatry
God’s word says it in a number of ways, and straight out in Colossians 3:5,
Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
God’s children tend to think of “idolatry” as worshiping and bowing down to a man-made idol of some sort — a mythical god that can answer their prayers. But, when a person greatly desires, covets, or loves anything in this world more than they desire fellowship with God Almighty, or love the LORD for who He is — they are setting that thing up as their idol.
It might be that what a Christian idolizes is a rock star, money, fame, popularity, success, or any sort of “stuff” in this world. So, Colossians 3:5 is telling us to consider ourselves as “dead” to any sort of “greed, which amounts to idolatry”. We can’t imagine that our particular “greed” is okay in comparison to someone else’s “greed”.
Ephesians 5:5 explains it further,
For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Even though a person does not actually have in hand what they desire and love so greatly, just the fact that they are so “covetous” of that thing makes them an “idolater” of that. They are loving the world more than they love God. That actually boils down to feeling that God is not worth as much as that worldly thing. When that is uppermost in their life, they are effectively giving up their “inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God”.
That’s scary — and a horrible way to feel. We need to realize what actually is worth holding onto in this world. Isn’t it Christ our Lord?
With Christ in our hearts, we have more worthwhile things than anyone can imagine, and say, “Hallelujah! Lord Jesus, You are worth more than anything in this life.”
Love,
Margaret
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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and GOD of gods.
Pray for our country.
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… Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus …
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The LORD made this day, let us rejoice and be glad in Him.
Psalm 118:24
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The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30
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Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.
Psalm 33:1
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How blessed are those who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4
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Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13
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O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1
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Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3
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Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12
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