Mr Greedy - Roger Hargreaves

Mr Greedy loved to eat. Everyday, all day he thought about food and more food. He made a ginormous breakfast that if he wanted he could have invited three people to share it. He didn't. One day he set off on a walk and came upon a castle. He didn't remember seeing it before but after going in he smelt delicious food and helped himself . No thought given to whose food it was and whether they were hungry.

And so here is our human truth - we are greedy. I remember as a child during the Second World War (1939-1945) having to learn to share our food rations. We were allowed only one egg per week! There was no chance to be greedy like Mr Greedy, gobbling down someone else's food. My parents showed me how not to be greedy and to share with others.

In the Bible (Luke 10v25-37) we are told of the time where a man was on a journey. He was attacked by robbers who took his clothes, beat him and went on their way. These Mr Greedys (the robbers) were only greedy to have his clothes and belongings - they weren't even bothered that he was half dead. We need a heart that first of all asks Jesus to forgive all the wrongs in our heart, and then gives us a heart that shows how to be kind and generous to others.

As a youngster I used to sing the chorus;

"J-O-Y, J-O-Y, this is what it means, Jesus first, yourself last and others in between"

Mr Greedy certainly did not put himself last!

Judas Iscariot was one of the disciples of Jesus and was in charge of the money that the disciples needed as they journeyed around with Him. He went to the chief priests and asked them what they were prepared to pay him if he handed Jesus over to them. They agreed on thirty silver coins. So Judas looked for an opportunity where he could hand over Jesus. This Mr Greedy (Judas Iscariot) was prepared to betray Jesus to get money - he had already been taking money for himself from the disciples' funds.

The opportunity to betray Jesus came and Judas led the soldiers and officials to where Jesus was praying with his friends. So this Mr Greedy was prepared to betray the Son of God because he needed money. You can find that story in John 18.

We also read in the Bible of people who had leprosy - a nasty skin disease. One such person was Naaman who was a commander in the Syria army. His wife had a servant girl who encouraged him to go to see the prophet Elisha, who could tell him how to be cured. Naaman wanted to give Elisha a gift but Elisha refused to accept it. So Naaman set off on the journey home, then Naaman's servant - Gehazi - ran after him saying that his master had changed his mind and could he give him some silver and two changes of clothing for him to give to Elisha, who would pass them onto two prophets who had called on him. Naaman gladly did so but Gehazi was another Mr Greedy and was challenged as to what he had done - his punishment was that the leprosy that Naaman had, would cling to Gehazi and all his descendants (2 Kings 5).

And so here is our Bible truth - we are to keep our lives free from the love of money and be content with what we have. We must learn to love and care for others as Jesus showed us how. Jesus commands us to love one another as He has loved us.

Covetousness is the opposite of contentment.

Greed is the desire for more than we need.