The Path of Greed, Part 1

Scripture: 1 Kings 21:11-16

So the men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them, just as it was written in the letters which she had sent them.  They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the people.  Then the two worthless men came in and sat before him; and the worthless men testified against him, even against Naboth, before the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death with stones.  Then they sent word to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned and is dead.”  When Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth, the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.”  When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab arose to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

Insights:  Today is the first of two parts dealing with greed.  In today’s verses we see that greed led to plots in order to acquire what one desires.  Notice that Jezebel hired two men to testify against Naboth in order for Ahab to be able to take possession of his land.  I fear that we do the same kind of thing for what we believe is our betterment.  Beloved, let me tell you, if we ever have to create a story or set up a plan based on falsehood, then it is NOT for our betterment.  This sentence leads to the second part of greed.  When we are driven by greed, we will lie to get what we want.  On Sunday I used the illustration of when Barney Fife purchased a car from a “sweet elderly lady” who happened to be the leader of a car theft ring.  She told Barney all kinds of lies about the car and after he purchased it the car began to fall apart.  She was greedy and full of lies in order to get a quick dollar.  Beloved, all of us lie from time to time, when we do, we must immediately apologize to the individual with whom we lied and then go to the Father and ask for forgiveness and for His strength to not lie again.  Plotting and lying are paths driven by greed and we must be on our guard against this vile monster.  Tomorrow, we will continue looking at greed and see two more elements surrounding greed.

Questions:

1.  Have you schemed and plotted to advance yourself?

2.  Have you lied to acquire what you knew did not belong to you?

Prayer: Father, protect me from myself as I am prone to plot and lie for my own self-gratification and satisfaction.  Amen.