“Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”
(Luke 12:15)
Greedy or Ambitious?
Am I greedy, or am I just ambitious? Think about that for a moment. Where do we draw the line? Our society often measures success by what we earn, own and display. We want to do well in school, improve our circumstances and provide for our families. These are good things. So, when do these good desires creep into the vice of greed?
What Is Greed?
Greed, also called avarice, is a disordered desire for money, possessions and the power they bring. The Catechism warns against “the desire to amass earthly goods without limit” (CCC 2536). Greed makes us crave more than we need. Do you really need that latest expensive phone? Responsibly saving or enjoying something beautiful is not automatically sinful. The problem is our attachment. Attachment is when something matters more than loving God and our neighbour.
Greed can be seen on our roads when minibus or taxi drivers speed and drive recklessly to make more trips and earn more money. The lives of passengers and other road users are put at risk for the sake of profit. We might think that only the rich are greedy. However, people with little can be consumed by the desire to possess, while someone rich may be generous. What matters is how we acquire, use and share what has been given to us.
Jesus warns us that our lives cannot be measured by possessions (Luke 12:15). In the parable that follows, the rich man plans bigger barns yet forgets his dependence on God. We too can become so occupied with securing our future that we neglect the people and responsibilities before us.
Greed or Healthy Ambition?
A healthy ambition involves developing our gifts, working honestly and serving well. A job should help us provide for ourselves and contribute to society. Greed results from wanting more and more even at another person’s expense or at the expense of our health, relationships (including with God) and well-being.
St Paul encourages us to “strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:31). He then leads us into his teaching on love. Our desire to grow should likewise be guided by love.
The Virtue of Generosity
The virtue opposing greed is generosity. Generosity lies between stinginess and wasteful extravagance. We can fail by refusing to share, but also by squandering what is entrusted to us. Generosity means using our resources wisely and giving according to our means and responsibilities.
The Cost of Greed
Greed can lead to theft, cheating, corruption, oppression and even murder. It treats our neighbours as competitors or obstacles, as though their well-being must be sacrificed for our gain. Workers become sources of profit rather than people with dignity. When employers demand long hours in unsafe conditions to increase profits, greed is at work. St James condemns withholding workers’ wages (James 5:4). Our gain must never depend on another person’s suffering.
Fast fashion can feed this appetite for more. We buy clothes to keep up with the latest styles and discard them after a few wears. We should consider both the people who make our clothes and what happens to the clothing we throw away. Do we really need another outfit?
During this Season of Creation, we must also examine greed disguised as progress and development. When carbon pollution, destructive mining and logging, or excessive extraction are accepted for short-term profit, communities and future generations bear the cost. Development should promote lasting flourishing for people and creation. The Catechism teaches that our use of natural resources must respect our neighbours and generations to come (CCC 2415).
Detachment
St Ignatius of Loyola offers the spiritual remedy of detachment. Created things should help us love and serve God. We need the freedom to use them rightly and let them go when they prevent that purpose. The Catechism also insists on detachment from riches (CCC 2544). To test if you’re attached to something, ask yourself whether you can share it or do without it. Also, ask yourself whether it helps you to serve God and others or whether it begun to control you.
Let us practice generosity regularly. Set aside something for those in need. Share time and skills, as well as money. Before buying, ask yourself whether you need it. Use, repair and pass on what you already have. Give something useful and good, rather than only what you no longer want. Practice gratitude, too. Thank God for what you have instead of continually measuring your life against what others possess. Employers must also pay fairly and respect their workers. Donating to the Church or charity cannot excuse treating people unjustly.
St Augustine reminds us that our hearts are restless until they rest in God. No salary, possession or purchase can fill that deepest longing. May we always use our gifts for the good of others.
