Musings of a Clay Pot

For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves. ~ 2 Corinthians 4:6-7

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Welcome to the "Musings of a Clay Pot." This blogspot is simply that... the musings and thoughts of a "clay pot" pastor whom God mercifully saved for His glory. As a church planter in South Orange County, CA, I have been deeply humbled by God's good sovereignty and His infinite love for His children. Feel free to browse and interact with anything written here... I hope it encourages your heart to love Christ more!

Monday, January 15, 2007

Fighting the Sin of Greed

The Bible tells us “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10). It also teaches that a person “who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income” (Eccl. 5:10). There is warning after warning in the Bible against the love of money because money is not the great satisfier of man’s soul. It can never give what only God can give, but O, how its temptations and lusts are strong! In order to fight against the sins of greed and covetousness and worldliness, I need to guard my heart with several key steps of faith:


  1. Trust in the Word of God ~ This boils down to a matter of faith. Will I trust in God or will I trust in my own sinful lusts? When the Bible tells me something, can I trust God completely for it?
    Prov. 3:5-6 ~ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
  2. Believe that the sins of greed will wreck intimacy with Christ and leave my soul depressed ~ I need to remember that sin always ruins my walk with Christ and never offers what it promises. Each and every time I have sinned in this area, I’ve found my soul parched and barren.
    1 Pet. 2:11 ~ Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from
    fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.
  3. Believe that the sins of greed may lead to apostasy ~ Paul warns young Timothy – a pastor – about the dangers of chasing after worldly wealth. It can lead to apostasy because the love of money makes us forget about God.
    1 Tim. 6:10 ~ For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by
    longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
  4. Believe that fighting this temptation will lead to greater holiness and deeper communion with Christ ~ Is not the intimacy with Jesus Christ the greatest joy and satisfaction in the entire universe? Is not Spirit-empowered holiness the sweetest taste of the believer’s soul?
    John 15:10-11 ~ “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”
  5. Believe that heaven is the believer’s final resting place, not earth ~ There are many promises the Bible gives us that speak of our future rest in heaven as the place for rest and rewards. God calls us to sacrifice our lives here and now for several motives, one them being the future rewards of eternity!
    Matt. 6:20-21 ~ “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

    Matt. 19:29 ~ “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name’s sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life."

posted by Musings of a Clay Pot | 10:34 AM | 1 comments