Jesus Christ warned his contemporaries about greed: "Take heed and beware of covetousness,[b] for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses"(Luke 12:15).

He used the example of a wealthy man who tore down his barns and built bigger ones to store his plentiful harvest. His attitude was: "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry" (Luke 12:19).

Jesus' warning is just as relevant today as it was 2000 years ago, because greed has plagued humanity throughout history.

For many people the highlight of the week is the lottery result. Thousands hope to win the big prize and be like the wealthy man in Jesus' parable, having "goods laid up for many years" so they can fulfill their desires – their greed.

In the United States the top prize in some lotteries can be as high as 300 million euros or more. In those cases the announcement of the big winner is considered newsworthy enough for the main news broadcast.

What isn't newsworthy is what happens to the lottery winners after they got lucky. For example, in the United States lottery winners are four times as likely to become divorced as the general populace.

That shouldn't surprise us, because greed is similar to other lustful attitudes. In 1 Timothy 1, verse 9 the apostle Paul exhorts us: "Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition."

Material gain in this life is immaterial compared to our character and faith.

"Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content . . . For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Timothy 6:6-8, 10).

The wealthy man in Jesus' parable would have "profited" by Paul's advice. What about us?

With these thoughts I wish everyone a rewarding Sabbath!