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Here we have a proverb that serves as an instruction against greed. The Bible gives many warnings that the material things of the world are passing away and therefore the primary focus of a Christian should be on that which is holy and spiritual. Mankind by nature is born into sin and our fleshly bodies even as believers have yet to be transformed so the underlying temptation for material goods may at times be present. That is why we must fix our eyes upon Jesus, looking at the perfect example He set; He could have had anything but chose to be a suffering servant to pay for the salvation of His people:
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:12-21).
The sinful human race will never be satisfied with what is adequate; most often people will want an abundance for themselves. This is how both pride & greed go together and this was the type of sin that caused satan to fall. Note that in Isaiah 14:13,14 where we read of this event, the desire and pride of satan manifests itself in 5 "I wills". Let us pray to the LORD that our desires be but what He has planned for us in His goodness and according only to His will:
"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:9,10).
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