Two Psychological Signs

Yesterday we considered Jesus’ two situational signs…gloating and worry, but let’s let Tim Keller helps us with two more signs from Jesus as we try to see if we have Money Sickness or Greed.

Jesus also gives us two psychological signs—Jesus said watch out for “all kinds of greed.” There is more than one type of greed and we hide it from ourselves because we notice other kinds that aren’t out own. Jesus gives two examples. First, in Lk 12:24, the Ravens—they are secure even though they don’t have anything—God provides for them. One type of greed comes when set your heart on money as your security. “I will say to myself…” this is deep in himself, “I can have control and be safe in a dangerous world.” Don’t we do that with investments and savings? If you can’t radically give it away you have made it your security. You can’t get secure through money. Money can’t do it. Earl Ellis, “Thought he was the owner but found he was owned. He thought he was in control, but he didn’t have control. He thought he was owner but found he was the tenant.” When money is your security you’ll never be able to give it away—you’ll never see yourself as a steward. Money seen as a security turns into a saving sickness—you don’t spend a lot on yourself, but it becomes your source of safety.

Second he gives the example of the lilies (12:27)—they are beautiful because God arrays them. Some look at money as their beauty—only God secures you and only God arrays you. People think money makes them attractive to others—it makes them feel worthy. They spend a lot on themselves—they buy clothes, homes, car to make them feel desirable. We will spend 40-50 dollars more for a shirt or a pair of pants simply because it has a horse on it or some other sign. Ladies you’ll buy a purse that much more than another simply because the brand is in when in reality it doesn’t do anymore or look any better than the other. We won’t even talk about cars and houses! In the end you’ll find that even though you are trying to be beautiful people are turned off by your excess and you no longer know if they love you for who you are or for what you have. Money sickness is most often shown through spending sickness.

Let me say, this isn’t about not saving. I invest in retirement and seek to be wise in those investments. This is about security. While I check my retirement balance, I am not resting in it for my security. God has cared for me my entire life and I don’t expect Him to stop when I retire.

This is about our trust, or source of identity, and our ability to obey God.