Just a little more please... Slippery slope of greed and envy

GREED: intense and selfish desire for something, esp. wealth, power, or food.
ENVY: a feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else's possessions, qualities, or luck

Greed is rampant in our society and psyche. The culture which blesses us so fully is a dangerous and powerful force in our personal worlds.. motivations, ideas, decisions, and plans.

Giving is the solution for solving the problems created by getting!!!!!

Are these questions a slippery slope for you personally, how about collectively? I/We need....

• More/Better time?
• More/Better space?
• More/Better motivation?
• More/Better education?
• More/Better friends/members?
• More/Better stuff?
• More money, more money, more money?

Proverbs 3:27-28; 11:24-28; 23:17-18
-- 3:27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it"--when you have it with you.
-- 11:24 Some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due, and only suffer want. 25 A generous person will be enriched, and one who gives water will get water. 26 The people curse those who hold back grain, but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it. 27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor, but evil comes to the one who searches for it. 28 Those who trust in their riches will wither, but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.
-- 23:17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD. 18 Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

10 COMMANDMENTS are relevant here in particular: Check out #10

More DISCUSSION QUESTIONS---

• How does greed manifest itself in our personal decisions?
• How does greed influence our decisions in the workplace?
• Does the church as an organization experience greed, envy?
• What is the difference between greed and striving to get ahead in life? What are the results of experiencing one without the other?

Jokingly, we say, "Money isn't everything, but it's way ahead of whatever is in second place." Read James 2:1-13. Why do you think the prosperity gospel puts so much emphasis on material things?

God's blessing are poured out on his people. Your needs will be met and he has plans to "prosper you not harm" Jer 29:11  - While this doesn't mean that you will be free from trials, it does mean that there is no need to hoard in a way that deprives your fellow man of opportunity.

Blessings and belongings are not EVIL. 
Success in competition is not SIN.  

• Romans 8:18-28 --MESSAGE
• James 2:1-13 MESSAGE
• Matthew 25:31-46 MESSAGE

I believe that blessings and prosperity are given to be shared.

• If you have a big house - use it to entertain, share ideas, study and rejoice with many
• If you have a great kitchen - use it to cook meals for others
• If you have a nice yard - use it to meet your neighbors, cookouts, games, sprinklers
• If you have a nice front porch - invite a friend/neighbor over just to talk.. share a beverage ;-)
• If you have a nice vehicle - use it to take someone to work, school, or church.. other than your family
• If you have a beach or lake house - revel in the glory and power of the ocean with friends, invite others to share
• If you have a cabin - take your neighbors, friends, even "enemies" on retreat and share the splendor of smores and a campfire as you love.
• If you know something, tell someone else. 
• If you have time - use it to serve, create, and make a difference!

Sin, Sex, Salacia, and the Slippery Slopes

Tomorrow, we begin a series of lessons on Sin and in particular the "Seven deadly sins".. Our texts for 6/6 focus us on Lust and Gluttony.  

In case you are wondering, one of my favorite restaurant experiences was in Va Beach for a wedding anniversary celebration where Tracee and I enjoyed a phenomenal meal at Salacia.. Excellent restaurant.

Below are some reference notes and ideas to get you started.. on our own slippery slope.. Lets all hope that we will spend the next few weeks climbing.. rather than digging... that is assuming you understand that we are already in a hole with our lifestyles and culture of "meism".

Little Sins/Big Sins... separate us from God and put our feet firmly on the "proverbial" slippery slope.

Proverbs is a book presenting the Wisdom of the Sages where the goal is to provide a roadmap to "live well and right"

Proverbs 1:1-6 These are the wise sayings of Solomon, David's son, Israel's king— Written down so we'll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means and where it's going; A manual for living, for learning what's right and just and fair; To teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our young people a grasp on reality. There's something here also for seasoned men and women, still a thing or two for the experienced to learn— Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate, the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.

Seven Deadly Sins: is a human construct/interpretation of SINS that lead to... death and eternal separation from a God who loves us and sacrificed himself for us to pay our ever accumulating debt.

• What exactly is SIN? yep, answering that question is the most central issue for us.  If you don't know, then that should be your focus. 
• Do you respond to positive reinforcement or judgemental punishment models? and how do you believe that the guidances for wise living set forth in Proverbs, should be dealt with... Are they laws, should they be?
• What is the punishment for not obeying this wisdom? What is the punishment for SIN?
• Why do we continue to sin even if/when we know that it is both wrong and bad for us?
• Do you know what the "seven" things are that God despises?  
• Do you know the Seven Habits of highly successful people?
• Do you think regularly about your personal "Tools of the trade"?  Benjamin Franklin used a table to track his personal progress and regular practice of 13 Virtues.  

What is your PLAN for LIVING WELL AND RIGHT?  Perhaps... it starts and ends with Love and an occasional trip through the Open Door.  I would also suggest a regular review of the Wisdoms of the Sages presented for us in Proverbs.