GREEDINESS Greed has nothing to do with prosperity and success as long as you earn income honestly.

All too often, people that are successful by honest means are labeled as being greedy. In the Bible, greediness describes a person that gains prosperity and success by dishonest means. The Greek word from which our English word greed originates means fraud and extortion. Greed can also mean covetousness. In other words, a greedy person has and is willing to do whatever it takes to get it, even if it is by dishonest means. Lets begin our study in Ephesians. Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children ,tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; There are people in every profession that will take advantage of you. Unfortunately, this includes some that claim to be ministers. You must be wise enough to know when someone is ripping you off. Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, Which is the Head, even Christ:(16) From Whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Every member of the body has the responsibility of supplying the body with whatever gifts God has given them. For example, some have the gift of unwavering faith, and that faith is an example to other members. Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,(18) Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Those that follow their own heart, that is to say mind, are not helping the fitly jointed body of Jesus Christ. The ignorance of men's mind is what causes the traditions of men to make God's Word void. Gods Word is what tells us how to live the life of God and be blessed. Ephesians 4:19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. Again, greediness correctly translated means to want something that legally and rightfully belongs to someone else. Beware of them. They will rip you off, if you allow them to do so. Utilize your knowledge of God's Word to discern between those that are honest and those that are filled with greed. Lets continue in the Book of I Corinthians. There was some incest going on, and Paul was letting the people know that it was wrong. I Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:(8)Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. When you study Father's Word, put off the old man as much as possible. Put off the traditions of men, and concentrate and focus on the Word. Many people have the traditions of men so engraved in their minds that those traditions become biblical to them. They would sware their traditions are in the Bible. In a spiritual sense, those that try to pass their traditions off as some new religion are greedy. Their lies are fraudulent. They rob many of God's children of the truth and drive them away from His Word. I Corinthians 5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:(10) Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. Don't associate or socialize with these types. We are here to shine a light of truth on them to try to correct them, but don't allow their ways to influence you. I Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. We have an old saying in our area that is appropriate here. The saying is: Dont lie down with the dogs, or you are going to get up with fleas." I Corinthians 5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? If you exercise Christian discipline, you don't have to judge. You know God is the Judge; however, you can discern. You should when someone is trying to pull the wool over your eyes. Dont let them! On a spiritual level, you must be able to discern a wolf in sheep's clothing. For Satan himself will soon be trying to hoodwink you, when he appears here on earth as antichrist. I Corinthians 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that

wicked person. The wicked person Paul is referring to is the one that was committing incest. Stay away from these types. Lets continue our study concerning greed and covetousness in Mark. We will pick it up with Jesus just having told the Pharisees and scribes that they void the law of Moses concerning honouring your father and mother by saying that as long as it is Corban(a gift to the church) that it is alright. Some television preachers I have heard would fit right in with the Pharisees and scribes. Mark 7:14 And when He had called all the people unto Him, He said unto them. Hearken unto Mw every one of you, and understand:(15) There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things that come out of him, those are they that defile the man.(16)If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. Many believe that this Scripture has to do with food. I want you to focus on the fact that Jesus is teaching us that what comes into our minds by hearing isn't what defiles us, it is what comes out of your mind through your mouth. You know truth when you hear it, and that which isn't truth is culled out and doesn't defile you. Mark 7:17 And when He was entered into the house from the people, His disciples asked Him concerning this parable.(18) And He saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; They could tattoo "666" from your head to your feet, and it would not change your feelings or mind about Christ. This is important. I hope you understand. Mark 7:19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? You don't allow lies and untruths to enter your mind. If you do ,your very beliefs can be altered. Mark 7:20 And He said, That which cometh out of the man, that defiled the man.(21) For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,(22) Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: Out of the minds of men comes all of this evil. Mark 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man." I think it is important for you to think on that a moment. Evil does not originate from God. Preachers that teach only traditions of men are ripping God's children off. The bad part is that it isn't only money we are talking about here. They are ripping off souls, and god doesn't like it one bit. If you are a teacher, teach God's Word, not that which comes out of your mind. If you aren't a teacher, listen and discern. If what is being taught doesn't align with God's Word, pass it into the draught. That is where it belongs. Dont allow people to misuse you. Stay away from covetous and greedy people. Lets turn to the book of II Corinthians. II Corinthians 2:9 For to this end did I also write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. Paul was testing them. He didn't want to have to correct them when he went to be with them. II Corinthians 2:10 To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; In the service of Christ, Paul could forgive. According to Christ's teaching we are supposed to forgive; however, forgiving doesn't mean forgetting. It would be foolish and against the law of survival to forget about someone hurting you. Once someone has proven themselves untrustworthy, it takes time to earn that trust again. Dont miss the important point Paul is about to make. II Corinthians 2:11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us :for we are not ignorant of his devices. The word advantage" in this verse comes from the same Greek word that the word "greediness" is derived. Satan is the heighth of covetousness and greed. He wants to take advantage of you. Satan wants to take your mind and soul, especially if you are one of the elect. Dont let him! Let's close this lecture in II Peter. Our subject will be false teachers. II Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord That bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. I would not want to be in the shoes of those false teachers on judgment day. II Peter 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. If you teach God's Word Chapter by Chapter, and verse by verse on television today, you will be spoken of evilly. It will be lies, because God's Word is truth. II Peter 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbered not.

False teachers will sell your soul right into Satan's camp, if you let them. They will be judges accordingly. II Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; We are talking about the fallen angels here(Jude 1:6) II Peter 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; Noah wasn't a false teacher of covetousness and greed. He taught that which was right. There is another flood that has begun even now, but we haven't seen anything yet. That is the flood of Satans lies. You had better be ready. He will be very convincing. Know the overall plan of God, and stick with His plan. Dont allow false teachers to sell your soul to Satan's greediness. In His Service, Arnold Murray