FEAR and GREED: The two cancers to any Christian Entrepreneur

I heard a friend of mine recently say that the two cancers to any investing portfolio are fear and greed.  I will be introducing my friend to you soon because of his investing insights, but his words struck home with me.  Here’s why…

Over the years, I have focused many teachings on fear, but not on greed. 

I have hit fear head on by constantly telling people to act even when they’re afraid.  Fear is what caused the wicked servant in Luke 19 to bury his talent rather than invest it so it could multiply.  I believe one of the biggest mistakes we as believers make is waiting for all fear to disappear before we are willing to act.  In the first CD of the Multiple Streams of Income for the Christian Entrepreneur Audio Program, I talk about combating fear in detail so I won’t repeat the discussion here.

But I have avoided talking about greed, even though my intentions of not doing so may have been justified.  If I talked about greed, then perhaps the perception would be that being wealthy is being greedy.  I didn’t want to come across that way since too many Christians have wrongly felt that money is a dirty word. 

Perhaps another reason I didn’t talk about greed is because I didn’t think I personally had any struggles with greed, and therefore, most other Christians didn’t, either.

But now I’m not so sure…

In looking back over the past number of years, I can see how I made certain financial decisions based on the notion that everything (financially and economically) would get better and better.

I wasn’t smart with the excess money from my businesses and my real estate.  Giving our tithes and offerings to the church and various ministries wasn’t a problem – we did that consistently and frankly were able to increase our giving substantially.

That’s why I thought I didn’t have a problem with greed.  But it was what was left over after giving and expenses that wasn’t invested wisely, maybe even wasted.

Yes, I bought a nicer bigger house and nicer cars, but isn’t that okay since I was giving tithes and offerings?  Maybe – maybe not.  There’s nothing wrong with material things, but that’s between you and God to decide whether you have the green light to do that or not.

Could some of us be deceived in thinking that we’ve licked this thing called GREED?  Can it be so subtle that it’s hard to detect?  No, not me, right?

For us to move to the next level in our businesses and our investments, we have to be honest with ourselves and ask this question.  That’s what I’m doing right now, and I just may not like the answer.  Is this about the Kingdom or has it become about ME and my fleshly desires?

If we realize that greed has slithered in without us even seeing it coming, it’s not until we confess and repent that can we move on to what God would have for each of us.  And with renewed vigor, let’s go out and be blessed so that we can be a blessing!

Thank you for allowing me to be so honest with you.  I hope this ministers to you as it has to me.  As always, please let me know your thoughts by commenting below…

Mark