Greed

[Quest 4Zion]

Not that God has greed but let me ask this question this way. If God's
glory is "to bring to pass the emortality and eternal life of man" is
it good to have greed for others?  What is greed?  Is it always a
negative attribute?


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[Jeremy]

Please explain what you mean by "greed for others."

My dictionary (Webster 1828) defines greed as greediness. I looked at
greediness and it said:

1. Keenness of appetite for food or drink; ravenousness, voracity.
2. Ardent Desire

Webster Universal College Dictionary 2001:

excessive or rapacious desire, esp. for wealth or possessions;
avarice; covetousness.

A dictionary that has lost its cover and title page. I believe it is
also a webster.

excessive or blameworthy acquisitiveness: AVARICE [back-formation of
greedy]

greedy: 1. having a driving appetite for food or drink: very hungry
2. having an eager and often selfish desire or longing
3. wanting more than one needs or more than one's fair
share (as of food or wealth)

And finally, Funk and Wagnalls Standard Desk Dictionary, 1980:

Selfish and grasping desire for possession, esp. of wealth, avarice,
covetousness.

I do not believe there is any place or way that greed carries any kind
of positive connotation. As the definitions describe it it is an
attribute of selfishness. To me that would mean one cannot have greed
for others. To do so would end up being a trap snaring the one being
greedy for someone else. The opposite of greed would be charity or
unselfishness. These terms denote someone that has a desire to help
and lift another.

[Quest 4Zion]

I agree with you that greed is not positive but feel that the
understanding of greed is important to help with the fundamentals of
Zion. A quote from a radio personality that had a problem with how
others would use it made me think more about greed and what it is.


“…on the word "greed." I'm so sick to death seeing this word used as a
weapon to bludgeon the free market and those who believe in property
rights. Health insurance companies, for instance, are "greedy" because
they are running with a profit margin of around 2.5 percent.”


Then he asked other to help with the definition, the first one was ok.


“Greed is; when one's lust for material gain or power surpasses a
point where their intentions, actions, and interactions are peaceful,
honest, and responsible.”
”By this definition, the mere -- normal -- desire to succeed, excel,
and acquire is not “greed” no matter how wealthy or accomplished one
may be. And, of course, one can be “poor” and exhibit these very
traits as well. “
”Most business people are not “greedy,” but most politicians surely
are. In the end, the pathological and morally corrupt attributes
defined above as greed are standard behavior amongst those who seek to
impose their will through compulsion and thus increase their power and
authority over the lives of others.”


It falls short when you look at it eternally. So what is a good
definition of greed from an eternal prospective?

[Jeremy]

Greed from an eternal perspective. That is something interesting to
think about. Here is my understanding for what it is worth.

The Law of Consecration operates on the premise that all things belong
to God. The earth and everything on it are His and He asks us to be
stewards over it. This means we own nothing and can own nothing we are
only caretakers for Him. We are given this property to care for and
take care of ourselves and others. Once a person has everything they
need and want, within reason, keeping anything beyond that would be
considered greedy. Under this order working to get gain over another
or more of something than another would be considered greed.


This definition is fairly good though somewhat flawed. It brings into
play a persons intention for what they are doing.

“Greed is; when one's lust for material gain or power surpasses a
> point where their intentions, actions, and interactions are peaceful,
> honest, and responsible.”
”By this definition, the mere -- normal -- desire to succeed, excel,
> and acquire is not “greed” no matter how wealthy or accomplished one
> may be. And, of course, one can be “poor” and exhibit these very
> traits as well. “

This part of the definition, however, makes me wonder. If "most
business people are not greedy," why do they work to get more money,
more goods, more property when they have sufficient for their needs
coming in from their business? When do they allow for someone to fill
in a need they can no longer adequately supply, thereby giving others
the ability to also take care of themselves?

”Most business people are not “greedy,” but most politicians surely
> are. In the end, the pathological and morally corrupt attributes
> defined above as greed are standard behavior amongst those who seek to
> impose their will through compulsion and thus increase their power and
> authority over the lives of others.”

The "free enterprise captialist system" is a telestial system and
operates under that law.

[Kami Boulais]

So, knowing that I can reasonably support my family with my ADN but
desire to attain my masters degree as to double my income and provide
a comfortable life for my family, would this be greed?

[Jeremy Aldrich]

What is the difference between reasonably supporting your family and providing a comfortable life?  Is it the difference between barely making the bills and having "toys"?  Are you seeking for affluence?

[Jeremy Aldrich]

You must also understand that I was speaking on (what I hope) was a more celestial level of understanding and not our current telestial one.

[Kami Boulais]

"toys" would be nice, but within reason, otherwise our kids get materialistic quickly. It would be nice to have $ to visit family more often and have better vacations and weekend getaways. I want a big piece of land for privacy reasons. I want many animals just for fun and for food consumption. I want Carlyle to be able to stay home, I want to be able to home school the kids, take them places to learn, buy science equiptment to aid in learning, piano lessons to add culture, karate lessons, foreign languages, tutors if needed, etc... Things we may not be able to afford with a smaller paycheck, but things we don't need as well. 

[Jeremy Aldrich]

All of the things you mention, it seems to me, are of value and working for them is not being greedy. When working to increase intelligence and improve the mind and developing talents then you are working for the right things. Avoiding materialism is a good thing. I believe that getting your masters to obtain the things you desire is not be greed.

[Kami Boulais]

Aw, thank you. I was just thinking to myself how bad that sounds. Lol. 

[Quest 4Zion]

Perhaps this is a good definition, it captures the whole picture of
what greed it is, yet is flexible. It's not about how much wealth you
have, it's how you go about it.

Greed - a desire to aquire one's own wants prioritized in such a way
that it prevents growth, in effect daming the progression of the soul.