Faith, Deeds, and Greed

Greed stinks! Plain and simple. Could we all agree on that? It's rooted in selfishness and is a total "train wreck." Jesus talked about it in Luke and gave great teaching about it. Then James proves how counter-productive it is when illustrated through faith and works. 

Luke 12:15-21 NIV

[15] 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.” [16] And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. [17] He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ [18]  “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. [19] And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” ’ [20]  “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ [21]  “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.” 

Being "rich towards God" is storing up treasures in heaven. Doing things that have lasting eternal value. Chiefly loving and helping the poor and needy. Greed does not facilitate helping anyone and makes our faith useless. God has given us good deeds to do. He prepared in advance that the Church would do good deeds to help people so that He would be glorified because of our good deeds.

James 2:14-17 NIV

[14] What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? [15] Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. [16] If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? [17] In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

See? Useless if not expressed by helping people.

Ephesians 2:10 NIV

[10] For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

Matthew 5:16 NIV

[16] In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 

So, don't be selfish or greedy. Put your faith to work by helping people and doing good deeds. Then they will glorify the Father in heaven and then God can draw them to Himself so they can be saved too. That's the main point Church. So the lost can be found and saved too. Love you all.

Love you,

Jeffrey Post