Why Greed?

Interesting that as you look at the news, tv, articles etc....we see more and more the greed in our society. Where did it come from? Why is so predominant in our world?

In my banking career I traveled to Mexico, Latin America and Europe. Clients were millionaires and their homes we visited were amazing! During my business trips I was able to view a whole new world, a world of money. I met the older generation of individuals that were born in a poor family and made their money by pure sweat and tears. These millionaires lived modestly....had ideals.....had morals.....most, in one way or another claimed to believe in God. I remember having breakfast with one of these individuals in Mexico City. We were ushered into his Penthouse. A beautiful magnificent view of the whole city. This couple at the time were in their 70's....they had just made this home purchase and still felt very awkward about its grandiosity. Seemed like they felt guilty of living in such lavish style.

I then began meeting the next generation of these millionaires......something was different...

these were brought up in rich homes....most had lost that simpleness that their parents still had. They had fancier cars....fancier homes.....our discussions were about fear of being kidnapped, fear of keeping up with the Jones' etc. A very different conversation. Very cold and very non-chalant. They were harder to work with and they could not trust anyone.

Something was lost from one generation to the next....

I worked for a company and an individual that claimed to be concerned and loyal to his clients and his employees. He professed to be a Christian. I remember offsite meetings where He would open in prayer in a room of about 50 - 75 Financial brokers. Everyone bowed their heads while He or his CFO prayed. Christianity was talked about openly in the halls....These top 3 executives came from Christian homes and attended church weekly....taught Sunday School, were on the board at their churches, etc...

He is now in jail and his company has been dissolved...all of it was a lie. A ponzi scheme! Talk about having discernment. I worked there for 1 year and all the while kept questioning things. Within 3 months of my employment there I started getting suspicious...everything was too good to be true. The plan - start a well exit plan in order to remove all potential harm for our clients that we brought with us. Thanks God! We did this in time!

I look back and I am so grateful to the Lord that he protected me in that whole mess!

So much greed! "He who is greedy is always in want".

The heartbreaking news is that when I skim through Christian TV...the greed is showing up there as well. All talk is about prosperity....for what? So that we can buy more things? Think about all the elderly that give and send their money gifts to these ministries all the while living in lack. This age group is bombarded with requests and they then feel an obligation to help out, because "that's what faith is all about"....that's what they are being told.

I have to reel myself in every now and then...how? I try to give out more than I give in...I don't ever want to be taken in by greed! I will fight it....I've seen too much of it!

I want to live my life in servitude. Please Lord help me accomplish this! I need more of you and less of me.....

I'm writing this because I've spent the morning looking at my old boss in handcuffs....He started off in a Christian home. He knows the Lord. Alot of the people there did. Somewhere down the road they got greedy.......they made a choice and it was the wrong one....

It could happen to you... to me... to anyone....

Ruth