Looking around our culture l find a lot of focus on same sex relationships, politics, drug addiction and environmental issues, but behind the curtain greed is a topic that no one is talking about.

I was watching a news program on the fate of many refuges in certain parts of the world and I saw families without food, dying a slow suicide of starvation, children literally skin and bones, lying on a mat taking in their last breath. The reporter then stated, not more than a few miles away there was plenty of food, but these refugees did not have any money to purchase it. So, they are dying daily from starvation right in the shadows of an abundant amount of food. As I watched this, a passage from the Word of God came to mind.

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians that at the present time, the people had plenty of financial and personal resources and they should now use there increase to give to those that are currently suffering. The Apostle Paul stated that the goal is equality in the body of Christ, as it is written: ‘The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.’

Paul is quoting from Exodus when God provided manna for the people of Israel as they were hungry in the desert.
We read in Exodus 16:17 – The Israelite’s did as they were told; some gathered much, some little.  And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.

As I write this, it is the Christmas season. It is the time when many Christians spend abundant amounts of money to add to their already overly blessed family, children and grandchildren. Many mega church pastors are living in mass luxury. I just read this week how a popular pastor bought his wife a $200,000-dollar Lamborghini for Christmas. Another TV Evangelist gave his daughter a million-dollar wedding. Popular ministry leaders around the nation are living lavish lifestyles and most Christians give them a free pass.

We live in a day when pastors would rather chide those that try to smoke a cigarette on their church campus, but wink at the self-absorbed lifestyle of their congregates.

Greed is the self-centered lifestyle and the pursuit of fulfilling our every desire. God calls it idolatry.  It is the most overlooked sin in Christendom and most likely will continue to be.

Paul said, there should be some element of equality. That followers of Jesus are to live simple, modest lives. Just because you have been blessed with much, does not mean that you live for much. As one man put it, God did not bless you so you can increase your standard of living, but God will bless you so you can increase your standard of giving.

In the time it took me to write this post, another child dies of starvation. Maybe you and your family can decide that enough is enough when it comes to this silent killer called greed.