The Desire For More
In the 1987 movie Wall Street, Michael Douglas's character, Gordon Gekko, delivered a speech to a group of shareholders of the fictional Teldar Paper in an attempt at a hostile takeover. In this gripping scene, Gekko declares the following:
"The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed -- for lack of a better word -- is good.
Greed is right.
Greed works.
Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit.
Greed, in all of its forms -- greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge -- has marked the upward surge of mankind.
And greed -- you mark my words -- will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
It is not often that you hear the words good and right paired with greed. However, I have known many, and I myself at one time or another embraced the idea that greed was something that was good and was a motivation for my own personal upward surge.
However, what I learned is that greed is destructive, it is the antithesis of good and there is nothing right about it. Jesus knew of man's penchant for greed and in Luke 12:15 we see him speaking to greed when he says, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has abundance does his life consist of his possessions".
So if greed is something we need to guard against and beware of (I have never had to guard against something that is good and right). What is the alternative?
The Apostle Paul tells us quite plainly in Philippians 4 that the alternative to greed is one thing. . . contentment.
When Paul wrote his letter to the Philippian church, he was writing from a Roman prison while awaiting trial. Yet, we see him say the following in chapter 4 of this beautiful book -
"I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength."
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Imagine being in a prison cell and being able to write the words "I am not in need" and "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances".
Thankfully, Paul shares with us how he was able to spurn greed and instead live a contented life. He knows that he can be content because he "can do all things through Christ who gives me strength".
So simple, yet something we so often forget. Our secret to contentment is looking to the source of our strength and to the ONE who gives us everything. And, the very One who has given us everything is the same One who warned us about our insatiable desires to want more.
We live in a culture that embraces the desire for more, yearns for the next rung on the ladder and applauds those who accumulate wealth. Achieving these things in and of themselves is not wrong, but if the desire for more quenches our ability to be content, then we will struggle to live a life we love.
I hope and pray that as we continue in our still relatively New Year, that we will tap into the secret Paul shares in Philippians and be content with Christ and Him alone and in doing so, let Him determine if He wants to give us more.
On the journey with you,
Carlos
This edition was first published in The Life Design Newsletter on LinkedIn.