humility vs greed

Asterius of Amasea gives us some interesting advice today in A Year with the Church Fathers. He says that we have to always be on our guard against the greed and envy that make us want more and more things that aren't ours, to add to the things we already have. He says this behavior was exhibited by Satan, who was created as an archangel named Lucifer. But Lucifer did not practice humility. He indulged in pride, and in that pride greed and envy grew. It led to his downfall, and to the misery of millions of people and angels alike.

How does humility protect us from greed and envy? Well, humility is reality. It's not pretending that God has not given us gifts. If God has gifted you with the ability to sing, then you're not being humble by pretending you can't. You are, in fact, neglecting to use the gift that He has given you. But in the reality of knowing you can sing, you should use that ability for good: not to puff up your ego or make millions of dollars to spend on your desires, but to help people, to worship God, to lift the spirits of your downtrodden neighbors. Humility is realizing what we really have, who we truly are, and putting it to the use for which we were given the gift in the first place.

If we're busy doing that, we don't have time to worry about what someone else is doing, and be envious of them. We're too busy doing good to greedily want more and more wealth, fame, or power. If wealth, fame, or power DO come to us, those are gifts which we can turn around and use to help people and bring glory to God.

God, help us to be humble... and to use our gifts for You.