Thought for the Month - June 2019
"Mr Greedy" by Barry Adair
(Who ate all the pies?)
They say confession is good for the soul, so here goes. I love to eat and will do so to excess sometimes. In fact, if you asked someone in my work now (or in my previous work sites) about whether they knew me or not, they may well say, "Oh yes, the guy who eats all the time?" Not a glowing report - but probably an honest one.
Yes, I was thinking about GREED this month (of which gluttony is one such form). And my research took me to a number of Bible passages and to one of Roger Hargreaves' "Mr Men" books too.
Now from the Bible, the apostle Paul had a dim view of greedy Christians…
But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. (1 Corinthians 5:11, emphasis mine)
Is it just me, or is greed/gluttony one of those sins which we seem to have become accustomed to? Those of us living in the Western World can have most food items whenever we desire. In fact, it is avoiding them which is our main problem. Very few of us in the West ever actually go hungry. I'm now wincing when I think of myself coming in from work and announcing that "I'm starving". Personally, I need reminded from time to time of the fact that millions of children and adults around the world will go to sleep hungry tonight! I also believe it is important to give to those charities who actively support those who are most in need around the world.
Doctor Luke left us a few poignant words from Jesus on the subject of greed too…
Then He (Jesus) 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, addition mine)
Whenever England played Northern Ireland at Windsor Park on 7th September, 2005, the outcome of this football match was a major victory for Northern Ireland. I was in the crowd that night and was avidly 'winding up' some of the England stars, most notably, a very talented but slightly 'beefy' Manchester United player called Wayne Rooney. Yes I was one of the home fans who was loudly singing "who ate all the pies?" every time Wayne Rooney touched the ball. Sorry Wayne!
So what got me thinking about greed this month then? I think it was a recent BBC website article about insulin (i.e. the hormone which Type 1 diabetics have to take daily to keep them alive). The article focused on a young woman called Laura who had to sell her car, her furniture, her apartment, her retirement fund and even her dog to keep up the payments for her insulin. Without medical insurance, she has to pay for all her injected insulin, at a cost of up to $900 every month! At 36 years of age, she has already sold all of her possessions twice to afford the insulin her body needs every day.
Now blame for the situation Laura finds herself in could be pointed at the U.S. health care system but in reading about the history of the discovery of insulin, I would like to apportion the blame elsewhere. You see, away back in 1923, the discoverers of insulin sold its patent for $1. Yes for $1! Their thinking was that, as the synthesis of the drug wasn't that expensive, essentially giving away the patent for free would ensure that this important treatment would remain freely available to everyone who needed it. Today, retail prices in the U.S. are around $250 per insulin vial from the three major brands that control the market. And Type 1 diabetics typically use between 1 and 3 insulin vials every month!
In an affluent country like the United States, people are dying because they can't afford the insulin they need to keep them alive. And all because large corporations want to make as much money as they can from the manufacture and sale of insulin. I have no idea how these pharmaceutical corporations were allowed to get to this stage but I'm sure another form of greed, in the form of "special lobbying", may have played a big part here too.
God hates greed, whether it is personal greed or greed carried out by large corporations. It is sin, and God hates sin. But just as there is a remedy for diabetes, there is also a remedy for sin. Jesus Christ is that remedy.
And just like the case where Type 1 diabetics will die without insulin, we all will die spiritually without Jesus Christ. Jesus died on Calvary's cross as a sacrifice for your sin and for my sin.
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
We merely have to humbly accept that Jesus died for our personal sin to avail of God's full and free salvation.
Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved… (Acts 16:31)
And just like the continual need of Type 1 diabetics for insulin, Christians need to rely on God's promise of forgiveness from daily sins, through Jesus' sacrificial death.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
God's gift of salvation is free, totally free!
And it is open to all, of every colour, every age, every creed and every nationality…
Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. (Isaiah 45:22)
Who is like the Lord our God?
Strong to save, faithful in love
My debt is paid and the victory won
The Lord is my salvation
(Getty Music)
Until next month (DV)…
Are you SURE that you have your place booked in Heaven? Read this if you're not!