There are four little words from the Apostle Paul in Colossians 3:5 that make for a good reminder a week out from Christmas.
They come at the end of a list of vices which he calls on believers to "put to death":
"Greed - which is idolatry".
Greed is the only vice listed to get a parenthetical definition from Paul. The others on the list are sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires.
Is greed really in the same league as cheating on your spouse? It certainly is if we understand, as Paul points out, that greed is, in effect, idolatry.
Greed is desiring and worshipping some thing in a way which should be reserved for God Himself.
And we know how God feels about idolatry!
Now, if you're like me, it's been a long time since you got as excited about some present under the tree like you did when you were 10.
But that doesn't mean we don't experience greed - it may only mean the things we desire just don't fit under a tree anymore.
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