At a five-day Singapore Food Expo, a seller was caught for selling bear gall bladder that came. It was priced at $700. An undercover from a wild-life rescue group made enquiries at the stall and video-taped the exchange. It is illegal to possess any bear parts, whether genuine or fake and those convicted face a maximum fine of $50,000 and/or a maximum of two years’ jail, so the papers said. Such an incident recalls what the bible says, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim 6:10).

Greed Motivates Fallacious Reasoning

I do not know exactly what motivated the seller to sell bear parts. But for incidents of this nature, one possible motivation is a greed for money. A typical seller may think in his mind, “I know it is illegal but I am not committing any grievous crime. They are only bear parts and the yield is high. Let’s do it.” This crime is not as grievous as murdering someone but it shows how greed works: Greed causes a person to be blind to what is right and wrong by fallacious reasoning.” The fact is, if it is wrong, you should not even think about doing it. No amount of reasoning can erase the fact that it is wrong.

If you know that what you are doing displeases God or that you are not doing what the Lord requires of you, do not try to bluff yourself that it is alright. It is not. Godly reasoning is simple: If it is wrong, I will not do it. If God requires it, I will let anything stop me from obeying God.

Consequences of Greed

“People who want to get richfall into temptation and a trapand into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction” (1Tim 6:9). These include sleepless nights, jealousy which leads to quarrels, neglect of family and ingratitude and failing in responsibilities to God. The end is sure: destruction, slowly perhaps but surely.

Great Gain with Contentment

“Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment” (1Tim 6:6). This does not mean you do not work hard or reject pay increases. What the bible teaches is that wanting to have more money for selfish reasons should never be the real reason for why you are working hard. The real motivation is always your Lord Jesus Christ: He is your real desire, that is, you work hard because He wants you to do so. A Christ-motivated life leads to real blessings from God which overflows to yourself and to those around you: peace, pleasant surprises, a well balanced life, both physically, mentally and spiritually.

A Check-List

But “the heart is deceitful above all things (Jer 17:9). We are very good at rationalizing things away or deceive ourselves that we are seeking to glorify God. Some tell tale signs of greed are these: Have you neglected God and your responsibilities to God? Have you neglected others who are in need? Have you been suppressing the rebuke of your conscience by rationalizing away truth? Do you feel jealous and angry when you do not get what you want?

Be godly and contented. God will take care of you and your family. But first, honour God.