The Snare of Greed

"Surely, in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird; ¹⁸ but they lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk secretly for their own lives. ¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners."

Proverbs 1:17-19

Trapping birds requires subtlety, but those who devise wicked schemes prepare a trap for themselves.  Snares are most effective when hidden, like a hook completely concealed with bait fish find attractive.  Those ensnared by sin, however, display less sense than threat-savvy birds or fish.  They make plans to destroy others, and even if they achieve their ends they destroy themselves in the process.  The foolish do not realise this, but the wise see the danger from afar.

Solomon warned his son of the dangerous sin of greed.  Greed is like the grave:  it is never full or satisfied.  At its root is a love of self, a lack of thankfulness and satisfaction with what God has provided, and pride.  Those who are greedy for wealth pierce themselves through with many sorrows (1 Timothy 6:10).  Greed longs for more, newer, and better.  It compels a man and woman to overwork and prevents them from enjoying the fruit of their labour.  People toil and slave to gain at great cost, and yet life places demands on us to spend.  The lure of a better life always dangles just in front of the greedy, and it robs them of their lives which could be enjoyed presently.

The miser Scrooge from Dicken's popular book A Christmas Carol presents an illustration with whom many can relate.  Scrooge was a businessman whose primary aim was the pursuit of wealth.  It was this exact pursuit which threw his life into miserable poverty.  Oh, he had money, and he had many people who owed him money.  But greed took a painful toll.  The greed of Scrooge led to his fiancee breaking off their engagement and robbed him of the chance of companionship, being a husband, father, and grandfather.  He could afford to keep his home and place of business comfortably heated in the winter, but he suffered the cold to save money on coal.  All his life he aimed to gain, and though he gained money his life was corrupted by greed, bitterness, and cynicism.  His net worth was never enough, and life was empty like his cavernous, cold house.  The happy ending supplied by Dickens is welcome, but such a dramatic turnaround is often unfortunately fiction in people poisoned and trapped by greed.

Take the wisdom of God to heart!  The life of your dreams is not as precious as the life God has given you to live today - regardless of your money, status, or perceived lack thereof.  Should you give place to greed you endanger the life you have, for greed "takes away the life of its owners."  We must own up to our greed, or otherwise it will own us.  Greed, like all other sins, will enslave and rob us of the life God intends we live with Him.  Only Jesus can break the yoke of greed and lead us in an abundant life beyond our favourite fantasy.