12 Steps To Heaven: #10, Don't Be Greedy

Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?...

He who does not put out his money at usury…

Psalm 15:1, 5 (NKJV)

Initially, usury was simply 'The practice of lending of money at an interest’ (Etymology Dictionary).

As centuries progressed, it came to mean, 'The lending of money at exorbitant interest rates' (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).

By God's Law, the children of Israel could not profit from their kin’s misfortune– nor were they allowed excessive profit from the misfortune of anyone else.

  • 'The thing forbidden is a harsh, grasping... disposition to take advantage of the embarrassments of others to increase our own gains' (Barnes Notes on the Bible)...

Because Jesus says, 'Love one another as I have loved you' (John 15:12)…

God’s Order to love governs ALL actions!

'Walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us' (Ephesians 5:2).

Without a doubt…

Exceeding abundance is what God GIVES--and NOT what He keeps (or hoards) for Himself.

Consider:

In biblical days, “talent” meant money. I believe talent means money today. How does this apply to entertainers?

  • Aren’t celebrities exceedingly rich?

  • Aren’t their profits far out of proportion…

  • To the talents they’re “lending” to the world,

  • Bringing them “exorbitant” interest?

  • Could this type of stardom be usury?

  • Could fans be like sheep without a shepherd?

  • Or dreamers without a destination?

  • Or gazers and grazers without a guide?

Actors, models, and talent for Christ:

Opt out of Hollywood's lending system. Your bank is elsewhere. 

Five key reminders:

  1. Your talents aren’t yours. They belong to God.

  2. You are His stewards, so steward them well!

  3. Yes, He commands you to multiply them,

  4. But certainly not for your own profit.

  5. The profit is HIS and secondly, theirs. (“Theirs” refers to your audience and fans.)

'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me' (Matthew 25:40).

Your exceedingly wonderful reward?

‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord’ (Matthew 25:21).

12 Steps To Heaven: #10, Don’t Be Greedy (Part 12)

NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings. Parts of this series are edits of a prior Carey Lewis Devotion series, first published in 2014.

Carey Arban