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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