Contentment

Let's take a brief look at greed. Practically speaking, greed is an inordinate desire for more. Like an untamed beast, greed grasps, claws, reaches, clutches, and clings—stubbornly refusing to surrender. The word enough is not in this beast's vocabulary. Akin to envy and jealousy, greed is nevertheless distinct. Envy wants to have what someone else possesses. Jealousy wants to possess what it already has. But greed is different. Greed is forever discontented and therefore insatiably craving, longing, wanting, striving for more and more. 

The Greeks had a curious word which means "a thirst for having more." To illustrate, it’s probably fanciful yet fairly descriptive to think of a fellow who is thirsty taking a drink of salt water, which only makes him thirstier. His thirst causes him to drink even more, which ultimately results in making him terribly sick. And if he continues to drink, he could die.

 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pyramid_of_Giza

 

That's the whole point of greed. You'll want more and more of something that really isn't good for you. And in the getting of it, you'll suffer the painful consequences. That is why Jesus warns, in effect, "Beware. Be on your guard. This thing is like a cancer—an insatiable leech that will suck the life right out of you." Enough will never be enough. Life does not—cannot—revolve around things if one hopes to achieve true excellence.

 

There's nothing in the world wrong with making a nice living. Nor is there anything wrong with being eminently wealthy if you earn and handle it correctly. But there's something drastically wrong when you keep it all to yourself! God gave it to you so you could, in turn, give it back to Him, to others—yes, in abundance. The only reason for anyone to make more than one needs is to be able to give more. We certainly can't take it with us when we leave planet earth, that's for sure! But the Egyptian Pharaohs believed in an after-life with all provision provided in their pyramid when they died. Only the scavengers got the gold and treasures, not Pharoah!

 

Reference:

Contentment by Pastor Chuck Swindoll (Philippians 4:11-12)