I should have built a tent but I wanted the best
I amassed more than I should: I built a mansion!
Decked in glory, then He called. I had to answer.
But it was hard to answer because I should not
Disobey Him who sent me. Yet I could not
Leave behind such a mansion for the call.
Confused, I was stuck on a spot, “Should I
Answer the Master and lose all my stashes
Or bail out of the call and tend my fancies?”

Food For Thought: Greed has fathered many children. Our romance with Christianity and religion in general does not tamper with that relationship and its offspring. Our love for God and zeal for His work do not interfere with that compartment. No, it bears the label of ‘Touch not,’ to God and all that is His. It says, “Lord, You can touch everywhere, take everything but this one: please leave that for me.” Greed, insignificant as it may seem, does not submit. Instead, it schemes to make everything subject of its lust. Even sincere efforts are corrupted because for everything, it expects returns. It won’t give if it won’t get. And it doesn’t care about commensurate recompense. No, it expects and reaches for so much more. It uses everyone and everything to serve its goals. It exploits every opportunity to gain more and more of what is targets. Greed never has enough. No matter how much it acquires, it always wants some more. It is insatiable. Greed corrupts good intentions and pollutes sincere atmosphere – a deadly and infectious disease. For greed, many have taken God for a ride. For greed, many have chosen the abominable and turned the sacred to secular. For greed, many who were called have lost their way, now chasing things instead of the One who called them. The cure for greed is contentment which God alone can champion in hearts that are surrendered to Him. Only yielded hearts can stay on the call and not be lured astray. Only surrendered lives will not abandon the call for the quest for more.

Scripture: Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. Matthew 6: 19.

Prayer: Dear Lord, in these times when it is so easy to get distracted and prefer the easy way to the narrow one, help me to remain true to You and to Your call, amen.