Greed

Habakkuk 2:6-10, “Shall not everyone taunt such people and, with mocking riddles, say about them, “Alas for you who heap up what is not your own!” How long will you load yourselves with goods taken in pledge? Will not your own creditors suddenly rise, and those who make you tremble wake up? Then you will be booty for them. Because you have plundered many nations, all that survive of the peoples shall plunder you—because of human bloodshed, and violence to the earth, to cities and all who live in them. “Alas for you who get evil gain for your houses, setting your nest on high to be safe from the reach of harm!” You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples; you have forfeited your life.” Who is Habakkuk? His writing is brief in Biblical length but the impact is powerful. He was a contemporary of Jeremiah. As you can tell from his powerful understanding of God’s desired relationship with us that Habakkuk spoke plainly and earnestly in hopes of humanity’s turn back to God and to restore our relationship with one another.

His words this morning reach into the very core of greed that has sapped the financial strength of our nation and its markets. The word overreach has been a recent development in the business world. What is really means is greed. Unfulfilled greed drives individuals to fulfill that need to possess and in Habakkuk’s words, “Alas for you who heap up what is not your own!” The warning is for today for those who disdain labor in favor of welfare, for those who feign disability in favor of dole, those who favor retreat instead of courage. There is no free lunch as the saying goes and Habakkuk reminds us today of God’s desire that we only use what is ours to use.

Prayer: Loving God, You have shown us mercy when we deserved justice, You have provided for us when we should have been chastised. Help us to be merciful, loving and faithful. Straighten us out and set us on the Way. In Jesus’ Name we pray. AMEN!