- Worstead Baptist Church
- Meeting Hill
- Worstead, North Walsham,
- Norfolk
- NR28 9LR
01263 734739
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Thought for the month:
Taken from Patrick’s book: Experiencing God in unexpected places.
Copies available from Patrick: patrick.coghlan1@outlook.com
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.’ (Matthew 5:3)
… On a number of occasions in the Bible Jesus speaks about the limitations and dangers linked with physical wealth, riches and material possessions. He warns us:
‘Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’
(Matthew 19:24)
‘But the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing.’
(Mark 4:19)
To some degree, greed is part of human nature; the commercial world seems to constantly play on that fact as it tries to sell more and more to us. We are urged by the advertisements, which bombard us from every direction, to buy more and more products – whatever they might be. Intentionally or not, society promotes discontentment. We are discouraged from saving up to buy something or from spending within our means – higher purchase terms are readily available. Indeed, there are incentives to have credit terms rather than to pay cash.
Greed boosts the economy. Greed encourages us to endeavour to ‘keep up with the Joneses’. Greed encourages a more self-centred lifestyle. And greed can distract or completely take away our focus from the Triune God, as illustrated in the parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:13-21).