How To Overcome Greed – Commitment and Contentment!

How do you overcome greed? 

When one wants more by all means, even want what belongs to others, is greed; An excesive desire for something! One who can do whatever in order to achieve more, to belong… To involve… Such person is controlled by the spirit of greed.

 

Ungodly desire towards someone’s possession is greed…

Example, Cain and Abel did present a Sacrifice from what they do, that is the harvest of their sowing to God. Abel was a keeper of sheep while, Cain was a tiller of the ground. After the Sacrifice, one of the sacrifice was accepted while the other was rejected. Why is it so? What might have caused it? If you go through the story properly, you will observe that, one of the brothers (Cain) went and selected the smallest amongst his crops proceeds to offer as a sacrifice to God; keeping the bigger ones to himself out of greed, covetousness and envy. In the other hand, Abel took it upon himself to give to God the fattest, and healthiest animal. Looking into it in another perspective, we are to understand that Abel was indeed committed to pleasing God, knowing fully well that even the livestock was given to him from God. He never allowed greed to take hold of his mind like that of Cain.

We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous – 1John 3:12.

 

In reference to Joseph and his brother, Genesis (37–50). Joseph, been the most beloved of Jacob’s sons, was hated; out of jealousy by his dearly brothers. They became angry and jealous of their father’s present to Joseph, a shiny and colorful coat; “coat of many colours.” The increased jealousy of his brothers to seize him due to the dream he told them regarding bowing down to him as their king led to him being sold out to a party of Ishmaelites, who then carried him to Egypt (against the thought of his brothers)! The brothers were not satisfied with such dreams and could not stand a chance to behold it. But, despite their plot to twart it, God made it come through at the end. Joseph overcomed their(brothers) hatred, jealousy – greed with love, forgiveness, contentment and commitment; toward them at their visit to Egypt in quest of food for survival. He welcome them and they honored him for his position in Egypt.

 

Do you know that Jesus was also tempted by Satan with the initiative of greed, When he was ask to bow and worship him (Satan) so he can have everything (the kingdom of the world and the glory of them) that was showed to him? But, Jesus was able to understand such tempting tactics as relating to greed, rebuked the devil to get behind him. Worship should be only to the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY and HIM alone is to be served! The benefits to be committed to praise and worship God is much and lovely. It is a dedication and a whole devotion! Do not allow pride lure you into greed – wanting to be who you are not, taking what is not yours, betraying yourselves and letting devil deceive you, wanting to be like others and not comfortable with your owned and thankful to God. Jesus was not greedy so as to gain the kingdom of the world and forget his commission towards the kingdom of God… He was fully committed to his duties – gospel of the kingdom of God and Heaven; his responsibility – reconnecting man back to his creator and maker.

– Greed leads to envy, covetousness, jealousy. And covetousness brings a lot of evil acts such as murder, hatred, killing and such like these.

Contentment is what we need so as to subdue greed and covetousness. Commitment helps one to be determined, not to be deceived in any course towards greediness.

 

Remedy:

 

1Tim 6:6-10

1. Be aware of who you really are – you are duly blessed with whatever thing you need.

2. Communicate with yourself and avoid to be used by you to tempt you (your mind).

3. Withdraw thyself from greed minded persons.

4. Hold on to Godliness and be contented; overcome greed thoroughly.

5. Be mindful of hurtful lusts, which leads people to destruction due to greed.

 

Now, let us talk about commitment which helps one to be determined and not to be deceived in any case towards covetousness!

 

Commitment is the ability to give in; To be dedicated to service and humanity.

 

• To give in to your duties… Be it in the office, school, organization and whatever!
• To be committed to whatever and wherever you find yourself.

 

Let us try to be committed to see that there is a positive change in the society… I have heard some persons say that ” it does not concern me” to the things or activities he/she should be committed. The things you should be concerned about is being overlooked, due to the fact that it is irrelevant to you. It ought not to be so!

 

One of the things killing our nation indirectly is lack of commitment and lack of contentment; not able to give in to our best so as to see progress and fulfilment, development and growth, not being fulfilled and satisfied with the things and blessings you have. As the citizens of this nation, planet earth, we have found ourselves in this very orifice to exercise our biding and be clarified on the various ways we can serve the each other. It will be a great waste of time, energy, resources and lots more that have been pulled out, if we, the people refuses to give in to whichever or whatever services we will find ourselves after this time out. As it is being said, the youths are the leaders of tomorrow – it does not apply to leading without interest; enthusiasm, but with commitment.

 

 

“To be committed, you have to be disciplined and for you to be disciplined, you ought to be determined!” In other words, you cannot be disciplined if you are not willing to accept the fact, as to determine to be committed. So long as we are still in this planet earth, we all should try to participate in every humility of service towards another. Involvement simply denote commitment and commitment yields good result.

 

 

We should be deliberately committed in life. Be it in Relationship, business and just take it upon yourself to deliver especially, in service because, commitment yield good result. Let us try to be committed to the things that will build us, individually, collectively and bring great positive impact to our nations worldwide!

 

 

I will stop here by saying that each and every one of us need to be intensional to commitment, because commitment comes in two phases, good and evil. One can be committed either to the good things or evil deeds. Let commitment be part of your existence; as someone created in God’s Image (an inbuilt to your human system). Therefore, be dedicated to carry out the idea God has placed in your mind; with commitment we can humbly achieve anything in life in service and humility.

 

 

Shalom!

Thank you,

_Simeon Okore_@TGMI