GIVE ME MORE

“If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one.”

Motivational speakers use this Russian proverb to teach about focus. They say that you have to focus on one thing to achieve success. I want to use the same proverb to preach about GREED. What happens when you chase two rabbits even if you only need one? You lose both. You only need one, you end up with none. That’s greed!

Greed is that intense, excessive & selfish desire for something. It’s when you want more pleasure, money, power or food than you can handle. We are all guilty of greed at certain situations.

• When an employee takes sole credit for the group’s report to get the incentive. But actually he didn’t do anything.
• When a public servant posts his name & picture beside a project to get more votes next election. Actually, it was paid for by the people’s taxes & not a single cent from the politician.
• When a taxpayer doesn’t pay the right taxes to keep more money. He believe no one pays truthfully anyway.
• When a businessman hoards rice during a shortage so he can sell it at a higher price.
• Or as trivial as you taking all the cookies in the house even if you know that others will want some.

There are more examples of greed. It gets worst when we even justify our greed. "Pero Lord, wala naman nagbabayad ng tamang buwis. So ok na siguro ito?"

Dinamay mo pa si Lord!

That’s what the man in the Luke 12:13 did when he said to Jesus “Teacher, tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.”

I love the reply of Jesus, “Friend, who appointed me as your judge and arbitrator?” (Luke 12:13). Jesus was saying “don’t get me involve in your greed game.”

God does not want us to be greedy. In today’s Gospel, Jesus warns us to “take care to guard against all greed” (Luke 12:15). Greed has no place in your life. What should we do about this excessive desire for more?

KILL IT!

St. Paul says "Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry.” (Colossians 3:5). All earthly desires should be killed.

How can you kill greed? By GIVING.

A rich young man asked Jesus what else can he do to gain eternal life. He followed all the commandments. Jesus replied, “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and GIVE to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” (Mark 10:21)

GIVE MORE. Desire less. GIVE TILL IT HURTS. Remember, God gave His all for YOU.

For God so loved the world that he GAVE his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

Wala ng makakahigit pa sa binigay ng Diyos! Let’s focus on giving to get rid of this desire called greed. May we desire for only one thing which is to follow God all the time.

It should not be GIVE ME MORE. It should be ME GIVE MORE. Have a blessed week! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com