Greedy for God
Can greed be good? I Kings 21:1-15 tells us the story of Naboth and shows he was greedy for God. That lesson encourages us to be Greedy for God because he is and always will be greedy for you. September 28, 2008.
We are now bottoming out during the worst financial distress our country has seen since the Great Depression. One presidential candidate blamed the current crisis on “just greed and concentrated power.” Political columnists agreed, including one who wrote, “Every time I read one of those long postmortems on why this financial giant or that has collapsed, it really does seem to get down to plain old greed. Enormous profits are not enough anymore. Obscene profits are not enough. Profits must be enormous, obscene and astronomical. And so financial institutions overreach and fail” (http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20080915/pl_politico/13472). And it’s not just their problem. The average American, even if we may not participate directly in the stock market, will be pulled into the downfall of collapsing retirement plans, mutual funds, and college savings, a fallout in lost jobs, and tightening credit.
So we rise up in righteous anger at the greed of the King Ahabs of our world, and as the Naboths we must suffer the consequences. 1 Kings 21 demonstrates in King Ahab and Queen Jezebel greed gone bad. But would you believe that four total figures in this story show greed and the extremes to which it can lead?
Let’s start with the obvious. The story opens with a bored King Ahab wintering in his southern palace in Jezreel, which sat at a lower elevation than the capital city of Samaria, providing a pleasant royal respite during the colder months. Ahab notices this vineyard near the palace, wants it for himself, and thus proposes a deal to Naboth, the owner. At first glance it’s a pretty fair offer from Ahab, “In exchange, I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.” The reality, though, is that this is a dark deal from a shadowy figure who abuses his power. And his co-conspirator, a foreign born wife named Jezebel, fuels the corruption further. When Naboth says no and Ahab sulks around the palace like a sad puppy, Jezebel taunts, “Is this how you act as king of Israel? I’ll get you the vineyard.” One wonders if Ahab is that much of a wimpy whiner, or if he deceptively masterminds a passive manipulation scheme to get Jezebel to do what he wants. Either way Ahab and Jezebel connive a murder plot that both disregards Israelite laws and uses them for their own greedy purpose. Naboth is stoned to death and dogs lick up his blood. Ahab gets to grow his tomatoes. But that’s not the end of the story. Or the greed.
The drama builds from two greedy people getting what they want to two greedy people getting what they deserve. God enters the scene and sends his prophet Elijah to King Ahab with this message, “Have you not murdered a man and seized his property? I am going to bring disaster on you … dogs will lick up your blood … because you have provoked me to anger” (1 Kings 21:19-22). The third figure in the story whose greed leads to extreme action is God himself. Not an evil or sinful greed, mind you, but a fiery zeal. A burning jealousy for righteousness that will not shrug its shoulders and sigh, “Oh well, watcha gonna do.” God’s holy greed for justice will not allow people like Ahab and Jezebel to get away with murder, or anyone for that matter to get away with greed. Which where we enter the story. If we fail to realize that we’re not just the innocent Naboths victimized by greed but we are just as much the Ahabs and Jezebels – greed’s perpetrators – then we’ve missed the point.
Some theologian somewhere listed greed among the seven deadly sins, probably because greed is one of those nasty sins that so quickly triggers other sins. Lying to parents, or concocting a cover up story to the boss starts with greed. Ignoring family responsibilities for the thrill of career pursuits, or stealing from siblings or aging parents in less-than-honest dealings starts with greed. Cheating on your spouse, clicking on porn, or plagiarizing a class paper starts with greed. Convincing yourself it’s okay to disobey God just this once starts with greed. The Bible warns, “Such is the end of all who are greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its possessors” (Proverbs 1:19). God is greedy for righteousness and where he doesn’t find it he goes for blood. For life. Find that hard to believe? Go ahead and look in your Bible and you’ll find greed pops up often in the company of the vilest sins church goers usually condemn with disgust. “Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral … nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy … will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9,10). Greed hurts not just victim, but perpetrator. God is the one who makes sure of it.
A Christian mother saw her two little boys fighting over a toy. Seizing the moment for a lesson in Christian love she stepped between them and said, “How about if one of you pretends that he’s Jesus and lets his brother play with the toy first?” The older, more street-wise of the two immediately turned and said to his brother, “You be Jesus.” The boy’s statement reveals twin truths about greed: people are greedy for what is bad, God is greedy for what is good. In the parable of the tenants in Matthew 21, do you ask yourself what in the world the landowner was thinking sending his own son to collect rent from mad mob of murderous farmers with weapons? Here’s why: he was greedy for the good of his harvest. Zeal for collecting every last bit of his harvest made him send even his own son. Greed – even good greed – leads to such extremes! A father sending his own son! Greedy to collect you and every last soul in the harvest of his kingdom, God sent his Son Jesus Christ. Greedy to satisfy justice and exact his vengeance on every sin God punished your sinful greed in his own Son Jesus Christ so that you are greedy no more. God will not shrink back from the powers of darkness that chase you in the night. God will not sit down and watch you sin uncontrollably. God will not stand by the side and let greed make a mess of your life. He is greedy for your soul, your forgiveness, your love! “The zeal of the Lord will accomplish this” (Isaiah 9:7). God is greedy in his love for you.
By now perhaps you have figured out the fourth greedy figure in the story. Naboth himself was Greedy for God. That’s why he didn’t sell his vineyard for a pretty profit. When King Ahab made his generous offer, Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.” The law God gave the Israelites stipulated that land like Naboth’s should remain in the family. This faith-filled man said no to money, prominence among his peers, and the deal of a life time. Nothing would come in the way of that devotion, not even his own life. Naboth lived and died like the apostle Paul who said, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things” (Philippians 3:8). Everything else is nothing at all compared to knowing you, Lord. That’s being Greedy for God.
So greed, if directed properly, can be good. Be a greedy friend and “put no stumbling block in anyone’s path,” so greedy for your friends to know Jesus that when you’re out partying you do anything to make Jesus look good in your Christian decisions. Be a greedy parent “in hard work, sleepless nights, and hunger,” so greedy for your children to see caring, uncriticizing love that you’ll give up your own desires. Be a greedy giver who is “poor” because your greed is for others to be blessed by your generosity “making many rich.” Be a greedy disciple of Jesus “having nothing” because you choose not to accumulate too many toys of this world, greedy instead for Christian living that is “possessing everything” (2 Corinthians 6:3-10). Be a greedy Grace member, greedy to hear, learn, and study God’s Word and participate in worship more and more.
Two weeks ago when the sermon, music, lessons and communion each lasted a little longer than usual, our 9:30 a.m. worship service lasted an hour and twenty-three minutes, creating a pew and parking jam of major proportions before the 11 a.m. worship service. I heard at least a dozen greedy people that day and the following week – not grumbling about the longer service but faith-filled people greedy for God’s Word and for worship who responded, “Thanks for the sermon,” or, “What beautiful music.” Wow. People said no to something as bothersome as that timing blunder getting in the way of their devotion to God. Live like that every day!
Naboth said no to an attractive offer because he was Greedy for God. Learn to better say no to whatever is nice-sounding or good-looking if it is going to distract you from your devotion to God. Be Greedy for God because he is and always will be greedy for you. Amen.
Preached at Grace Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI (http://www.gracedowntown.org/) on September 28, 2008
Related Sermons
A Disciple Named __________
Good stories don't have to take long to tell. Take Dorcas, for example. Dorcas was "always doing good and helping the poor," and we'd never know it except for what's written about her in Acts 9:36-42. Like Dorcas, each of us is "A Disciple Named ________. " Each of us makes a difference. May 13, 2012. Read on
Branch Out, but Not on Your Own
Jesus declares that he is the Vine—and we are his living branches, connected to him. And like grapevines, we often need to be "pruned" to be "productive." Through that, how do we stay connected to Jesus, our Vine? John 15:1-8 encourages us to "Branch Out, but Not on Your Own." May 6, 2012. Read on
Keep Watch, Shepherds!
Many joys and privileges come with positions of power and freedom; along with it comes just as much responsibility. No wonder the apostle Paul's final words in Acts 20:28-32 to the church leaders in the Ephesian church warned, "Keep Watch, Shepherds!" April 29, 2012. Read on