The Christian is usually very quick to admit their sin. “I struggle with lust.” “I’m full of pride.” “Anger is stealing my victory in Christ.” There is, however, a sin that hides itself from the victim – greed.

We are hidden from our greed because we tend to live in a particular socioeconomic bracket. Once we are able to live in a certain neighborhood, attend it’s schools and participate in the social life we look around and see the people who have more money than we do. Regardless of how lavish our lives are, in comparison, we live modest lives. In other words, we don’t compare ourselves to the rest of the world, we compare ourselves to the rest of the neighborhood. This allows us to continually justify our lifestyle and our greed remains hidden.

In Luke 12:15 Jesus says, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” In this passage Jesus explains that greed is not just a love of money – it is also excessive anxiety about it. To “consist” of your possessions is to be defined by them. It is equal to believing that your worth and value is the sum of what you own and consume. You see this all the time. When riots break out over a new pair of Nike shoes. When people are trampled on Black Friday. We are driven even to the point of violence so that we can have the newest shoes or a nice TV. We believe these things will define us in some way. Jesus’ warning hits home , we cannot allow our personal identity to be wrapped up in money and possessions….or the lack thereof.

We typically think of greed as having a lot of money. However, the person with few possessions who is constantly anxious about acquiring more is just as guilty of blinding greed as the rich man who is constantly seeking to gain more for himself. Greed refers to the person who, if they lost their wealth, would not have a “self” left. It equally describes the person who, if they were to gain wealth, would finally feel as though they have found their true “self.”

This is not what Jesus intended. “You cannot serve two masters….you cannot serve both God and money.”

So, how do we address this hidden sin? We reorient our lives according to the Gospel.

2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”

Jesus had infinite wealth; treasure in heaven – and he gave it all up for us. If he had stayed rich, we would die spiritually poor. If he died poor, we could become rich in Him. The Gospel and the cross of Christ reorients our life and money loses it’s grip. Listen to Tim Keller on this point (from his book, Counterfeit Gods):

“The solution to stinginess is a reorientation to the generosity of Christ in the gospel, how he poured out his wealth for you. Now you don’t have to worry about money – the Cross proves God’s care for you and gives you the security. Now you don’t have to envy anyone’s else’s money. Jesus’s love and salvation confers on you a remarkable status – one that money cannot give you. Money cannot save you from tragedy, or give you control in a chaotic world. Only God can do that. What breaks the power of money over us is not just redoubled effort to follow the example of Christ. Rather, it is deepening your understanding of the salvation of Christ, what you have in him, and then living out the changes that that understanding makes in your heart.”

This is why Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33 to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you as well.”