In light of the current “chaos” being caused by both the known and unknown facets of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), here is day fourteen of the daily devotions from the prayer-based devotional I wrote to be used within disaster relief situations.  I believe many of the same lessons we need to learn when dealing with recovery from a tornado, hurricane, or earthquake can be helpful as we get through, and recover from, the current levels of chaos we are experiencing.

Here is day fourteen with an important reminder to let go of all forms and traces of greed.

Let Go Of Greed

“Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’”
Luke 12:15 (NIV)

Let Go Of Greed

How much is enough?  Are you sure?  What determines that answer in your life?  Why?  Is greed more about what you have or about what you want?  Why?  Have you ever missed out on something you wanted, or needed, because of the greed of someone else?  How did you feel?  How will letting go of greed help you to not only have hope, but help you to share hope with others?

“I’ve lost so much, it is only fair that I take whatever I can get.”  Perhaps you’ve heard someone say that, or even said it yourself.  Such an attitude may not be greedy in and of itself, but it definitely has the seeds of greed when the “whatever” is limited.  Particularly when recovery resources are limited, it can be very difficult to consider the needs of anyone but ourselves.  In fact, the fog of chaos can make it appear in our mind as if we’re the only one who is in real need.  For most of us, the seeds of greed are hidden well enough that we rarely recognize them.  In fact, even considering that we need to let go of greed probably seems a bit abrasive to many of us.  Yet without a deliberate effort to let it go, greed has a way of weaving itself into our mind in ways that eventually come out.  Like so many other things that we need to let go of, doing so will require that we replace it with something so that the hole left is filled.  When it comes to letting go of greed, it is the act of sharing that best fills the hole left by greed’s absence.  Letting go of greed allows us to see the needs of our friends, families, and neighbors to be as equally important as our own — or maybe even more so.  Letting go of greed gives us hope as we not only look to God to provide all our needs, but we also trust Him to do so.

As you pray, ask God to help you examine your heart and mind for any seeds of greed that you need to let go of.  Pray that you would look to the needs of others even above your own.  Pray that you would know the hope God desires to give as you let go of greed and learn to share.

In prayer,

Tom