Greed vs. Ubuntu: How Our Desire for More Undermines Collective Good

I was sitting in church service and the Text was taken from 1 Corinthians 5. The pericope that stood out to me was verses 9-13. I want to write about this Text this week. Most churches that I have been to over the years are great about talking about Paul’s first topic which was about the young man being with his father’s mother.

We don’t have a problem preaching or seeking to hold people accountable when it comes to things taking place in the bedroom. Not saying that we shouldn’t but I am saying that we seem hyper focused on what we call sexual sins. I asked a church elder one time why they were so obsessed with the “Bump and Grind” and everything else that goes on in people’s bedrooms. He couldn’t really answer. I knew he didn’t know because he didn’t present himself as a student of the Text.

However, I do know there are some churches that have taught about greed over the years. We have  taught it from the standpoint of pointing out the sins of King David. We quickly use him as an example to where greed can take us. I have also heard greed from the standpoint of food. Now, I know that most of the examples that we have given over the years are tied to physical activities, but what about our activities that are not always easily seen by the human eye?

Some of us are greedy for attention and power. We will do and say anything to anyone to obtain this attention and power. We completely disregard any and everyone who is in our way that is keeping us from obtaining the feeling or position we are seeking to achieve. If you do not believe me, go read through human history. The first story you can find in Torah is about Cain and Abel. This was a story of Cain’s greed for “one upping” Abel. We already know the outcome.

Greed will cause us to forget about Ubuntu and will have us believing the world revolves around us. This has contributed to many of the issues we have in society. However, how many of us in church leadership are hammering home on this point? Are we afraid to talk about this because of our big donors? Or are we guilty of worshiping this sacred cow? 

Greed is a bottomless pit which exhausts the person in an endless effort to satisfy the need without ever reaching satisfaction.

Erich Fromm