Graves of Greed

Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind Ephesians 2:3

Desires – Desires are not neutral.  They have specific direction.  In other words, David can ask God to put God’s desires in his heart (one direction) and Paul can warn us about following our own desires (the other direction).   Some desires are important and valuable; others are dangerous and worthless.  The problem is that until we have a guide outside ourselves, we really can’t tell which direction a desire is going to take us.  The only thing we know for sure is that we are messing with dynamite.

Paul uses the Greek word epithumia.  It’s a word about the explosive quality of unleashed passion.   In the New Testament, it is generally associated with lust and carries a very negative connotation.  It’s connected to orge (wrath).  The imagery is volcanic; a violent boiling up, an impulse, usually connected with food or sex.  This potential destructive force within is why Paul cautions us to “keep the body under.”  God guides, but He doesn’t provide discipline.  That is something you and I have to do.

It’s worth noting that this Greek word is connected to the Hebrew ta’awa.  Paul certainly knew this.  Perhaps Paul had the story in Numbers 11:31-35 in mind.  It’s a classic case of the disaster that befalls those who will not discipline themselves.  God hears the cry of Israel and provides them with meat.  Quail rain down from the sky.  But their basic lust and ingratitude shows itself in the mad rush to accumulate as much as they possibly can, far more than they could ever need.  What happens?  Before they can finish eating the meal, a plague sweeps through the camp and many die.  The place of this tragic event is called qibrot-hatta’awa.  You can see the word ta’awa in this place name.  And what does it mean?  The Graves of Greed.  A lot of Israelites found that the Graves of Greed was their last stop on earth.

You and I can learn something from this story.  The lesson isn’t easy.  What’s required is the discernment of the Spirit working within and a very thorough understanding of God’s Word working without.  The kinds of desires that move us toward Graves of Greed seem to have at least one thing in common – the passion to possess.  There’s a Greek word for this – eros.  In fact, the Greeks considered eros to be the fundamental means for attaining personal fulfillment.  We are what we make of ourselves.  We are what we can accumulate for ourselves.  Of course, we can accumulate good things as well as evil things.  While we are naturally inclined to distinguish between these two categories, we seem to be blind to the common factor – accumulating!  The reason that the Israelites died at qibrot-hatta’awa had nothing to do with their hunger.  They died because they were not content with what God provided.  They demanded more and when they got it, they hoarded it.  They died from excess. They accumulated without recognizing God’s requirement for grateful distribution.

Now the point comes home.  We also live in a culture of pointless accumulation.  We think that “having” is the solution to life’s problems.  We reject contentment as unfulfilling and demeaning.  We are camping on the edge of the open graves.  It won’t take much to fall in . . .  just one more something.

Topical Index:  Possessions