Vices and Virtues: Generosity Conquers Greed

7 Deadly Sins & the Seven Lively Virtues: Greed & Generosity

Proverb 15:27 “The greedy bring ruin to their households”

Luke 12:15 “Then he said to the crowd, ‘take care to guard against all greed, for though one may

be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

Parable of the Rich Fool

Luke 12:16-21 “Then he told them a parable “There was a rich man whose land produced a

bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’

And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall

store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many

good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool,

this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they

belong?’ Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters

to God.” Luke 12:16-21

The story of the Rich Young Man

“Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect,* go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and

you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this

statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Amen,

I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it

is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the

kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and said, “Who then

can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For human beings this is impossible, but for God

all things are possible.” - Matthew 19:21-26

Mammon: false god of greed

“No one can serve two masters.mHe will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one

and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24 -

Warning!

1 Timothy 6: 9-10 “Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into

many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of

money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and

have pierced themselves with many pains.”

(Money is not the root of all evil, It is the inordinate love of money that is the sin. That it why Jesus

said it was difficult, not impossible)

Define:

“Greed is an inordinate love of riches and the good things of this life. Jesus Christ, to cure us of it,

was born in extreme poverty, deprived of all comforts. He chose a Mother who was poor. He willed

to nee the Son of a poor and humble workman.” - St John Vianney

Combat:

Old Testament: Abraham, Isaac, David, Solomon and Job,

New Testament: Zacchaeus (Behold, half of my possessions, Lord I shall give to the poor, and if I

have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it 4 times over), Joseph of Arimathea (a rich man

from Arimathea named Joseph, who was himself a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked

for the body of Jesus - Matthew 27:57-58, Nicodemus (He brought expensive spices to anoint

Jesus) They put God above their wealth

WHAT TO DO?

1 Timothy 6:17-19 “Tell the rich in the present age not to be proud and not to rely on so uncertain

a thing as wealth but rather on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. Tell

them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready to share, thus accumulating as

treasure a good foundation for the future, so as to win the life that is true life.” (This truly wining it at

life)

Cultivate generosity - Time, Talents, and Treasures

“Nothing is more costly than greed but nothing is more rewarding than generosity” Fr Chris Alar

MIC

Encouragement:

Proverbs 11:24-25 “One person is lavish yet grows still richer; another is too sparing, yet is the

poorer. Whoever confers benefits will be amply enriched, and whoever refreshes others will be

refreshed.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 “Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever

sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or

compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant

for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every

good work.”

Resources:

Book: Christian Fatherhood by Steve Wood