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is typically used to criticize those who seek excessive material wealth, although it may
apply to the need to feel more
or otherwise better than
someone else.”
Greed by those who are unemployed, or refuse to work, often leads to coveting what
belongs to others and becomes a form of idolatry:
Proverbs 21:25-26 “The desire of the lazy man kills him (
over time leads to his
death
), for his hands refuse to labor. He COVETS greedily all day long, but
the righteous gives and does not spare.”
The righteous is able to give because of his willingness to work and from his earnings he
gives to the needy.
Proverbs 15:27 “He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he
who hates brides will live.”
Soncino Commentary
, “
Money so obtained does not benefit a man’s household as when
it is honestly earned. In due course he is punished for his offense, and in his downfall his
family experiences trouble and hardship.”
Grudging is another form of greed:
II Corinthians 9:5 “Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren
to go to you ahead of time, and prepare your generous gift beforehand,
which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of
generosity and not as a GRUDGING obligation.”
The Administration of Government
God made known to Israel his form of government through Moses’ father-in-law to
Moses and the qualifications needed for the men to be in those offices of responsibility:
Exodus 18:19-21 “. . . Moreover you shall select from all the people able
men, such as FEAR God, men of TRUTH, HATING COVETOUSNESS; and
place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rules of hundreds, rulers of
fifties, and rules of ten.
The same basic form of theocratic government is also made known within God’s true
Church by the Apostle Paul:
Ephesians 4:1-16 “. . . And He Himself (
Jesus Christ
) gave some to be
apostles,, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers
for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying
of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and the
knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature
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