Greed...~A person without self-control is like a city with broken down walls. Proverbs 25:28
Have you read The Mill on the Floss, by George Eliot? I had never even heard of the book until I found the movie under titles by this author. I own Daniel Deronda, which I received as a gift from my family this Christmas, and although I prefer this Eliot plotline to The Mill on the Floss, I am captivated with an idea presented in the story of the Mill.
Mr. Tulliver, the Mill owner, had a sister with no fortune, and in an effort of what he called brotherly kindness, he borrowed money so that Gritty, his sister, would have a fortune when she married. Over the course of many years, Gritty, now Mrs. Moss, nor her husband never pays the debt.
In an act of desperation over his own financial difficulties, Tulliver travels to his sister's home and asks about the money, if it is available. As a classic enabler, Tulliver's comments are meant to wound his sister, and after his satisfying verbal assult, he leaves, resolved that he should not require the debt to be paid because of her present situation.
In the course of the conversation, Tulliver makes a comment that has piqued my thoughts. He states that he knew Gritty should never have married this man, because he was so greedy that he knew they would always be poor.
Humph. I hadn't thought about the correlation, but yes, this is a nugget of truth. Greed can cause people to live hand to mouth. Everything they get, they consume. There is no restraint; nothing is set aside, it is all used.
Proverbs 21:20 The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.
I "get" my grocery budget, and my babysitting money. After tithing on my babysitting earnings, the rest is put into savings for our debt snowball. From the grocery money, I attempt to save a small amount each payday.
I'm looking for ways to be more excellent in my thoughts and handling of money. I'd love to hear your comments about what I'm thinking, and how you handle what comes into your hands. Would you please leave a comment? Thanks!
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2 comments:
I checked out Daniel Deronda from the library a while ago and really enjoyed it. I'll have to look for this one it sounds really interesting.
I'd never thought about greed in that way before. When I think of greedy people I think of people who hoard everything including money. So I don't think of them as poor. But I guess you have a point when you say they can consume into excess.
Manuela
The greedy are always poor in spirit (not like the beattitudes). Their attitudes toward money keep their spirits impoverished even though they might own a fortune. Rather like David's uncle Ebenezer in Kidnapped. In an effort to keep control of the inheritance he ultimately lost it. It keeps them from reaching out and sharing or giving God's blessings with others. Which in turn blesses the givers and keeps our spirits encouraged and blessed. Giving blesses us twice once while we are anticipating and planning our giving and then when we actually have done the giving and can look back on it as a job well done. If we view all we own as Christ's then it becomes easier to relinquish our ownership of it and to share with others. We are also not as hurt when things are damaged or lost.
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