The Tragedy of Greed and Avarice
(Genesis 3:1-6)

The root-cause of conflicts in humans, societies, nations, and international relations always lie in greed and avarice, as James wrote in James chapter 1 verse 14 to 15 “but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death”.

1. The fall of Adam: Greed and avarice
1) The greatest tragedy in human history was the fall of Adam and consequential sufferings and destruction.
2) Adam and Eve had a bad companion.
① The conversation with Satan and the temptation
② The temptation of greed and avarice that they could become like God
③ The law of seeing in the wrong way ? seeing the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil
④ Greed and avarice invoked - the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom.
⑤ Adam and Eve tried to be the master of their own and control the circumstances surrounding their lives, leading to make their own judgment and take actions apart from God.

2. The tragedy of Babel Tower: Greed and avarice
1) The judgment of the Flood in the time of Noah * (Genesis 6:5-8)
2) The descendants of Noah prospered in the land of Shinar.
3) The history of rebellion in that land - let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.
① Let’s build a ground up high so that we can be equal to God.
② Let’s become a master of our own, being independent from God.
③ Let’s join together to rebel.

3. The devil’s weapon who tempted Jesus: Greed and avarice
- “If you are the Son of God…do this”, a way of making one greed
1) Tell these stones to become bread.
2) Throw yourself down from the highest point of the temple.
3) Bow down and worship the devil to gain all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.
- All these temptations were to make Jesus prove that He Himself was equal to God.
Become another master of you besides God.
Greed was used as bait tempting Jesus to rebel against God and join hands with the devil.

4. Greed and avarice we should be most wary of
1) The greed and avarice of wanting to be like God ? Pride of not knowing one’s place
2) Act as an independent master being separate from God
3) Faith without the cross ? Religion of the law or mere acts of rituals

Even today, the old devil fills us with greed and avarice, instigating us to rebel, be in disputes, and commit murder. True peace and joy will come to us when we put away with greed and avarice.