The Dangers of a Greedy Spirit - Martin Wiles

Let true justice prevail, so you may live and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Deuteronomy 16:20 NLT

I sat in my recliner and watched injustice raise its ugly head. Oh, the dangers of a greedy spirit.

Six balls of various sizes floated around our den. More than enough for each of our three grandsons to have more than one. But they wanted the same one. Our youngest grandson played with one, minding his own business. The middle grandson wasn’t satisfied that he had five more to choose from. He wanted the one his cousin had. So he snatched it. Our youngest grandson crawled over and retrieved another ball, only to have his cousin snatch that one.

Amid this greedy drama, the oldest grandson decided he wanted the same ball his younger brother and cousin played with. So he snatched it from his brother, who in turn screamed bloody murder. It was time for me to intervene and teach them a lesson on sharing.

At the time, we cared for three small grandchildren in our home for six days a week, which provided us with many life lessons. One in particular had to do with greed. I noticed I didn’t have to teach them to be greedy; it came with the human territory. Instead, I had to spend my time teaching them to share and be kind.

God warned the nation of Israel to appoint judges who would see that justice prevailed. If they didn’t, the harmony of the country would be affected, and so would their relationship with their neighbors.

Greed gives evidence of a selfish spirit, and without God’s help, it will, like the jealousy monster, gobble us up. Life may seem more pleasant when it’s all about us, but God never designed anyone’s life to be just about them. His order is him first and others second. Our selfish desires come farther down the list. When they are near the top, we have misplaced priorities.

Only God can birth an unselfish spirit in us. Just as I have to instill that in my grandchildren through disciplinary and other teaching methods, so God has to do the same for me. But we must give him free rein to do so. Bucking his efforts keeps us from learning the lessons he wants to teach about how wonderful an unselfish lifestyle can be.

Instead of holding on to greed, let God teach you the joys of unselfishness.

Father, guide me to follow your unselfish example of giving your all to me. 

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Give and Get - Martin Wiles

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:21 NLT

She and her sister rotted in a Nazi prison concentration camp, but they gave nevertheless.

Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsie were Hollanders caught in the German invasion of their country. Believing they held Jewish sympathies, the Nazis arrested her family and carted them off to prison. Eventually, all except Corrie and her sickly sister found freedom.

As Corrie and Betsie gravitated from one prison camp to another, Betsie’s health deteriorated. Vitamin drops were the only thing keeping her strength up so she could do the painstaking work the Nazis required. But when others needed the vitamins, she shared. Corrie worried the vitamin drops would give out and her sister would get worse, but God gave to Betsie and she gave in return.

Soon, more than twenty-five shared the small bottle of vitamins—but the drops never ran out. Day after day, the drops unexplainably multiplied. One day, a young Dutch woman assigned to work at the hospital delivered a treasured package: more vitamins. Corrie planned to finish the bottle first, but when she tried to deliver the drops the bottle didn’t deliver. 

Betsie ten Boom’s treasure came from giving. According to Jesus, her heart occupied the same place.

God wants His followers to give even when it appears impossible to do so—as it did with Betsie. He doesn’t expect us to give so much that we put ourselves or our family in poverty—or that we neglect our financial responsibilities—but He does want us to give proportionately and with faith. Betsie had faith God would care for her if the vitamins ran out.

We give because God has given to us—the greatest gift of all. Under no obligation, He gave His only Son to pay our sin debt. The sacrifice was the vitamin we needed to sustain our spiritual lives. Our giving to others demonstrates our appreciation for His gift.

Giving shows love. Betsie loved those she didn’t know. She loved to the point she was willing to sacrifice her own health. As she gave sacrificially, her giving drew others to Christ—which was one of her goals. Even in a nefarious prison camp surrounded by evil guards, her giving attracted others to the One who gave His all.

Give with the right motives and for the right reasons. You’ll never regret it.

Tweetable: Is your hand opened or closed?

Prayer: Father, as You have given Your all for us, may we give our best for You. 

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Less Talk More Wisdom - Martin Wiles

Even fools are thought to be wise when they keep silent; when they keep their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. Proverbs 17:28 NLT 

“It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” Several have said it in various configurations. 

When I was young, I acted foolishly in a number of ways. One was talking during church. I suppose the church my dad pastored didn’t have a nursery. These were the days when children still cut their teeth on church pews and were taught to remain silent during church. Acting childishly resulted in a trip outside or to a back classroom for a learning lesson applied to the hind quarters. 

My saintly grandmother—who didn’t want her only grandson getting a spanking, brought along a pocketful of Hershey Kisses—or silver bells as I called them. Stuffing my mouth with them for 45 minutes probably wasn’t healthy, but it helped me keep my mouth closed. 

Wise King Solomon had a lot to say about when a person should and should not speak as well as what they should and should not say when they did speak. 

Less talk promotes selflessness. As a youngster—and for some years thereafter, life was about me. Kids are narcissistic; so are some adults. But life isn’t about me. By cutting down on the amount of words I speak, I learn to hear about what’s going on in other’s lives. 

Talking less enables me to actually hear what others are saying. If I’m doing all the talking, the other person doesn’t stand a chance. Nor can I hear them if I’m silent but mulling over in my mind what I’m going to say when they finish talking. That’s called lack of focus—or focusing on the wrong thing. Looking at the person speaking to me helps me listen and digest what they’re sharing. 

Being a person of few words also helps me consider the importance of my words. One of my college professors had an annoying habit of pausing before he answered a question—so much so that I wanted to answer for him. Later, I understand his reasoning. He thought before he spoke—which, by the way, saves me from making many foolish statements.

Listening more than I speak opens up opportunities for me to help others. I truly hear and understand what they’re saying. Then I can speak—and act, with wisdom. 

Are you speaking less so others can talk more?

Prayer: Father, give us wisdom to know when to speak and when to remain silent. 

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Protected from Self - Martin Wiles

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. James 1:14 NLT

On any given day, stress levels can be elevated. 

I work well under pressure, but don’t handle pressure well. When I’m behind on grading assignments I’ve given students, I feel pressured. Or when the internet is acting up. Intermittent downtime means more time is required to do the work I’m required to do—if I can do it at all. Online books can’t be accessed; online exercises can’t be completed. Students have heard me grunt at the computer more than once. 

While I may blame my stress level on the computer, the internet, or the demands of my profession, the source is me. My attitude toward these or other aggravating circumstances swell my stress level. But circumstances or people can only stretch my stress level if I allow them.

The source of any sinful actions or thoughts I choose to commit is identical. James says my biggest problem is me—not others…or even Satan. I am my worst enemy. On the other hand, he isn’t teaching that Satan or his demonic companions are figments of religious imagination. 

I—and every other human—was born with a sinful nature. When I choose to follow Christ, He replaces it with a new nature, but He doesn’t remove the “flesh.” Flesh isn’t a reference to the skin that covers my bones but to the part of me that still wants to act and think the way I did before I met Christ. Satan temps through my flesh, but the flesh is mine. I need protection from me. 

The devil can’t make us do anything. The Spirit who is in believers is greater than the one (Satan) who is in the world. When I feed my flesh and new nature with God things, I lessen the chances I’m going to cause me problems. 

Having God’s Word hidden in our hearts gives us a source to run to when our flesh acts up. Remaining in a constant attitude of prayer reminds us God is always present to give us wisdom and strength to overcome what Satan—or ourselves—is throwing at us. 

Putting on the full armor of God protects us from Satan’s attacks. Tending to our inner selves protects us from ourselves.

Prayer: Father, we ask that You give us an inner desire to obey You rather than the temptations of Satan or the flesh. 

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