Envy and greed – evil twins out to get you
When I think about envy and greed, I can’t help but remember a uniquely special man. He wasn’t envious or greedy. But those evil twins ultimately killed him. And the thing about envy and greed is…they can’t even exist without a helpful host. They need a place to live, and that place is in the hearts of human beings. That’s where they plot and scheme. (If you prefer to listen rather than read, check out this episode of the FunderCast)
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Envy and greed don’t care who they take down.
Back to that special man. In the eyes of envious and greedy people he did unforgivable things. Like telling everyone who would listen how important their life was. And would you believe he had the audacity to talk about how to love others?! And he even saved a bunch of lives. It’s true. Unbelievable that any man would dare to live that way.
But there were men who didn’t like that unique man’s message. They didn’t appreciate how he started building a massive audience. He was even making what they said were outlandish claims. And they envied how he could back up those claims with action. In other words, he didn’t just talk the talk…he walked the walk. And, as a result, his enemies were so full of envy and greed they decided to have him silenced. Rubbed out. Snuffed. Killed.
Think about it. This wasn’t a drug deal gone bad. In fact, this guy didn’t commit a single crime. Not one. Unless you consider his most outlandish claim of all a crime. “And what was that?” you ask. Well, he did claim to be God.
But like I said, he backed up his claim. How? Remember how I said he saved a bunch of lives? Several of those were people who had already died. He brought them back to life. And he helped other people walk who had never walked before. He helped blind people see. And deaf people hear. What an awful guy…right? Here’s the point…
Jesus was killed by the envy and greed in men’s hearts.
Massive contempt was built up for a man who never committed a crime or a sin in His whole life. And they never stopped or even paused to think about how he was there to help and save them. All they could see was Jesus getting all the attention with His message. And so they ended up yelling, “Crucify him!”
A few years back I wrote about how America is being pillaged by the green-eyed monster of envy. Time has passed, and I see the monster has grown. How? By gaining strength and power in the hearts of more and more men and women. Please, don’t be one of them. Envy and greed destroy your heart and eventually your only hope of happiness. Eternal life in Heaven with your Creator.
America is still a free enough country you can totally disagree with me and we can go on about our lives. But are you willing to risk your potential eternal happiness for your worldview? I am.
Here are the lyrics to the song shared in this FunderCast episode:
The Pure Place
I clamor for the clean life, and I never quite succeed
I’m hunting for the high ground that’s higher than the sky
And I’m looking for the love-life…the kind that we all need
I’m wishing for the wonder that lives in my mind’s eye
I want to find the Pure Place…that glitters like gold
I need to find the Pure Place…never hot or cold
I’d love to find the Pure Place…
Let the Light shine on my face…
No dreams I’d ever have to chase…
No bad that we could not erase…
I’d love to find…the Pure Place!
I’m searching for the sanctity that I never do quite find
I’m longing for the living days that never, ever end
And I’m thinking so theatrically, but at least I use my mind
To quest for the quintessence of my Forever Friend
repeat chorus…inst…repeat chorus and end
© 1998 Tony Funderburk
In each episode of the FunderCast, Tony Funderburk shares how life makes sense because God made you. He’s the author and publisher of 34 books for adults and kids and a songwriter with hundreds of songs to his credit. Get some free songs and a book for kids by jumping on the <a href="https://www.tonyfunderburk.com/">The FunderFlash</a> today.
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