Greed and Fear

For some, these two go together like rotten bacon and spoiled eggs.

When greed and deeper reach for power are the motivating factors, the spatula might be a worthy metaphor for serving up fear.

Maybe a better fear-analogy would be a hammer.

Most who read God's Word (the Bible) with any sense of depth and study realize that "God-fearing" means to fully reverence, respect and worship God, indeed all due to His love and power, not merely power! Though there is real connotation of the Hebrew and Greek terms (in Old and New Testaments) regarding dread, terror, it's about respecting God supremely. Further, it's about respecting the Lord over and beyond respecting people due to Who He is, His perfection, His righteousness, His love and not merely regarding His absolute power.

When I ponder human power, threats, wars and the brutality of continual historic human greed-and-fear tactics my mind ultimately goes to the words of one who in his day was the most powerful human being on earth. His concluding words? They are found in Ecclesiastes chapter 12:

v.13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. v.14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil."

There is literally no one and nothing with the ability to stop God from His perfect judgment and timing -for each and every person. His infinite knowledge and complete perfection alone holds the scales regarding each of us in all our motives, ways and means.

Each moment is the right time to live as Paul instructs in Ephesians 5.1-17

"1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

  3 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

  6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says,

“Awake, sleeper,

And arise from the dead,

And Christ will shine on you.”

  15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

God help us! And as always, thanks for stopping by! -Glenn