Greed

Money is one of those topics that we rarely want to hear talked about when it comes to religion. The stereotype of course is the preacher who stands up in front of the congregation at budget time each year and preaches a rousing sermon about tithing and how God expects everyone to give according to his or her means.

Scripture speaks much more about money than just giving to the local church. In fact, money is one of the most frequently talked about topics anywhere in scripture; especially when it comes to the topic of greed. Jacob stealing Esau’s birthright, the money changers in the temple, and Judas’ betrayal of Christ are just a few examples of people who gave up their morals and ethics for the almighty dollar. Ok, so none of them used dollars but you get the idea.

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5b

The almighty dollar is used today, however. Nearly any person can take a moment, stop, and think of a person he or she knows that compromised his or her values and ethics for a few extra American greenbacks. Oftentimes, the excuse is, “It’s nothing personal. It’s just business.” This theory maintains that what is done in business has no connection with what is done in one’s personal life. Sometimes business is separated from all other aspects of life. Church may take place on a Sunday morning and then early on Monday a cutthroat business deal may transpire destroying people’s very livelihoods in order to save a few dollars.

How easily we separate and rationalize the decisions we want to make in order to help our stomachs and our heads digest them a little more easily. Good companies that began for noble reasons oftentimes take a turn toward insatiability and greed seeming to never be full and always wanting more. Corporate Financial Gluttony has perhaps been one of the Satan’s greatest tools in America. It conveniently gives us something seemingly valuable and stable to strive for, all the while slowly whittling away at our souls.

I heard a recent story of a small business owner who used less than honorable tactics to do away with an employee thus producing more profit for his business. The company was not doing well and he needed to cut a salary. Rather than laying the employee off, he resorted to “business” tactics. He verbally abused the employee hoping that he would have enough, get frustrated, and simply quit the job. The employee stood firm so the businessman had to resort to harsher tactics. He loaded the employee down with so much work (outside of the employee’s expertise) that the employee was sure to fail. Naturally, the employee began to make some mistakes in his work. Threats of termination were mixed with the silent treatment as the business owner refused to make eye contact and talk with the employee. Finally, the business owner walked in unexpectedly one Friday and fired the employee. No explanation, no severance package, just, “You’re done. Leave.”

Now this situation could have been handled much more professionally and with a touch of humanity in the mix in order to preserve relationships and not burn bridges. Dare we even mention an addition of Christian ethics and values into the business world to treat others the way we would want to be treated? Oftentimes, however, this is not the case as it cost additional money. Treating someone with respect and dignity in the workplace takes effort. Effort on one front causes decreased productivity on another. Decreased productivity leads ultimately to less revenue which leads to an impossibility to treat others with respect the next time around the cycle.

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert.” 1 Peter 5:6-8a

Another example is that of corporate America. I heard another story of a company that was initially created to make a difference in people’s lives. It was a humanitarian effort; all about helping people help themselves. It quickly morphed into a machine of bad policy and poor ethics where employees were forced to work less at changing lives and to work more at making the company money. The machine grew and grew opening up new branch after new branch until it could barely sustain itself. One day, a tiny pin was thrown into one of the cogs of the machine and it started to sputter, clink, and clank. Greed had pushed the business leaders to spread themselves too fast and too thin. The business began to ache and rumors spread about collapse and closing. Ultimately people lost their jobs, their sense of purpose, and their trust in the company that was at first created to empower others. (It doesn’t hurt to mention that as layoffs loomed, upper level executives received end of the year bonuses that were equal to the average employee’s annual salary.) “We have to cut the budget by 20% and increase productivity by 10%. That means layoffs and increased work loads. It’s nothing personal. It’s just business.”

“Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:8b-9

And so Satan roams the earth looking for whom he might devour. If he can work himself into businesses; into the very fabric of American society where we steadily separate ourselves from our ethics, morals, values, and beliefs that we hold so dear on Sunday mornings sitting in our pew then he has us. We are his for the killing. His strategy is strong and it works.

Be wary that when we play shopkeeper in real life that real lives are affected.
Real families are affected.
Real futures are affected.
Real souls are affected.
It may be yours.

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5: 10-11