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Charity more important than ‘worldly’ wealth

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By Ivan Naijuka

Greed is covetousness or materialism, an excessive pursuit of material possessions derived from a deep placed obsession with oneself and misplaced values.

In today’s society money seems to be what most people yearn for. That act alone is not necessarily greed just as someone who gives to charity is not automatically charitable. Many writers in different terms describe greed as the immoderate desire for earthly goods, as well as situations such as power, wealth and even food. It is a sin of excess.

The object a person is greedy for may not be evil but the issue lies in the way one regards the object. It is for this reason that Paul terms greed as idolatry since an idolater worships the things of this world (Col. 3:5) and lacks an eternal perspective on life.

Greed can further inspire such sinful actions as declaration of materials or objects, theft and robbery, trickery, and manipulation, not to mention corruption that has crippled our society.

Bottomless pit

Greed as we all know as gluttony, is a bottomless pit which cannot be satisfied. It keeps demanding more and more at whatever cost. To Enrich Fromm “Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction”. Here, one wants to accumulate and possess more and more without considering the boundaries created by basic values of life like love/charity, equity, justice and fairness. Charity/love is seen as the cure for greed.

The term charity should not be confused with the modern use to mean compassionate giving but the ability for one to be able to put the desire to help others above storing up things for themselves.

This desire to help others is divinely inspired and enables us to act according to God’s good purposes (Phil. 2:13). Like other sins, greed is not a desire we can get rid of on our own. We need God’s love to work in us and through us. Our desire should be to do the will of God. Instead of manipulation or dishonesty or violence (be it verbal or physical) in order to get our way, we should be straightforward and passionate about what is right in order to accomplish a greater good whatever the cost. This way we quench any selfish desires that come from our sinful nature because we value God. In his book, Growing Kingdom Character, Tom Yeakley, said: “…came to learn the lesson that what God does in us is often more important than what He does through us (for) God’s purposes will be accomplished, with or without us”.

This tells us that what we do in the name of God is not more important than who we are and/or what we are becoming. The line between greed and charity is a very thin one. If we give to gain more and more, then greed wins and what is supposed to be a good act turns into sin.

The sin of greed can take over your life if you allow it. Be charitable to keep greed away. The intent must be pure. Let the spirit guide you in your actions of charity. You will fi nd that the ‘wealth’ of doing good things is far more rewarding than the ‘wealth’ of the world.

The writer is Communications Officer at All Saints’ Cathedral, Kampala

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